Analysis of endophytic microbiome dataset from roots of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) cultivated in the Central Highlands region, Vietnam using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic next-generation sequencing

Vietnam is the most prominent black pepper producer and exporter in the world. In 2020, the cultivated area of black pepper in Vietnam was 132.000 hectares and its production was 270.000 tons, in which the Central Highlands region took about 70% of both the cultivated area and production [1]. Hence, this region is thought to be the capital of black pepper cultivation and production in Vietnam. Numerous researches have investigated biodiversity and collected various beneficial endophytic bacteria from this plant in this region; however, traditional methods only were used to isolate such bacteria [2], [3], [4], [5]. Therefore, these studies have a limitation to providing insight into the profiles of the endophytic microorganism dataset in the black pepper plant. Most recently, our work based on the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed an insight into profiles of microbial diversity and its functionality from the sample collected from a forest in this region; however, that work was just focused on soil microbiome dataset from the dry deciduous dipterocarp forest in Yok Don national park [6]. To our knowledge, a dataset of endophytic microbiome of black pepper plant cultivated in the Central Highlands remains unclear. This report presents a dataset of the endophytic microbiome from a representative sample combined from five different root samples of black pepper (Vinh Linh local variety) cultivated in the Central Highlands of Vietnam using 16S rRNA gene metagenomic next-generation sequencing. The dataset in this work can provide information on the endophytic microbial diversity and its functionality. It can also be useful for developing cultivation techniques by applying endophytic microbial genetic resources for sustainable black pepper production in the Central Highlands, Vietnam, towards the nutrient need in different stages of development and growth.