show Abstracthide AbstractThe synergistic interaction between plants and microorganisms are pivotal in the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons; however, the underlying degradation mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In this study, we employed a multi-omics approach, integrating transcriptomics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and metabolomics, to analyze key differential genes, dominant microbial strains, and root-secreted metabolites involved in petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in alfalfa