Abstract: In this paper, T-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) technique was adopted to study the dynamic changes of bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil of continuously cropped Rehmannia glutinosa L. The results showed that the Shannon diversity index, Margalefindex, and similarity index of bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil all decreased in the order of control > one-year cropping > two-year continuous cropping. Under continuous cropping, the proportion of dominant bacterial species declined obviously. In one-year cropping soil, the class Bacilli of phylum Firmicute dominated the bacteria community; while in two-year continuous croppingsoil, the class Epsilonproteobacteria of phylum Proteobacteria became dominant. Continuous cropping of R. glutinosa decreased the bacteria species, and simplified the bacterial community structure. The changes of bacterial community diversity under continuous cropping of R. glutinosa led to the disorder of the functions of bacterial community, and thereby, the destruction of the ecological balance in rhizosphere soil, which might be one of reasons causing the obstacles of continuous cropping of R. glutinosa.

Key words: T-RFLP, continuous cropping, Rehmannia glutinosa, rhizosphere soil, bacterial community