Protists play a pivotal role in the soil microbiome,and it is important to study the distribution pattern of protists in the temporal and spatial dimensions and their effects on the microecology of the root system. In this study,we followed the trading space for time and selected soil around the rhizosphere of mulberry plants at different ages（10,80 and 200 years old）in the same mulberry（Morus alba L.）orchard as sample. Then we used Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to determine the diversity of soil protists and differences in community composition and to analyze their drivers,which may provide a basis for exploring the ecological stability mechanisms of mulberry inter-rooted protists. The results showed that the dominant phylum species of mulberry native community were basically the same among different ages,mainly Chrysophyta,Kinetoplastida,Bacillariophyta,Rotaliida,Oomycetes and Petalomonadida,but the relative abundance varied among different ages in Paracercomonas,Petalomonas,Acanthamoeba,and Rhynchomonas were the genera with significant differences in relative abundance at 10a vs 80a,10a vs 200a,and 80a vs 200a years of age,respectively,indicating significant age variation in the composition and relative abundance of the soil native community at the genus level. Native community diversity,abundance and evenness were in very significantly negative correlation with chloride ion,Simpson index was significantly and negatively correlated with total salt and community cover was significantly and positively correlated with potassium ion and alkaline nitrogen content. In sum,there are common environmental preferences or potential biological interactions among the protists and fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere of mulberry..
