Changes in fungal community during different phases in conventional and bioreactor composting systems according to metatranscriptomics analysis.

This article investigates the changes in fungal community structures and ecological functions during conventional and rapid bioreactor composting of agricultural organic waste in Beijing, China. Using metatranscriptomics analysis via Illumina MiSeq sequencing and the FUNGuild bioinformatics tool, the study found that fungal α-diversity increased throughout bioreactor composting but decreased in conventional composting. The dominant fungal phyla differed between systems, with Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota prevalent in the bioreactor, while Ascomycota dominated conventional composting. Functional guilds and trophic modes of fungi varied significantly between composting methods, with available phosphorus (AP) identified as the key environmental factor influencing fungal community structure and function in the bioreactor system. The findings suggest that bioreactor composting enhances fungal diversity and functional complexity, supporting more efficient organic waste recycling.