Fig. 6

The seasonal variations of microbial virulence factors. A Distribution of seasonally differential genes involved in QS. The numbers of genes with higher abundance in the leaf eating season (WL and CL) or shoot eating season (WS and CS) are shown. B PCA plot based on all virulence factor (VF)-related genes. C The positive associations of gene richness involving VFs and MGS number per sample. MGS, metagenomic species. A linear fitting (the solid lines in two colors and the 95% confidence interval in gray) of the number of VF-related genes and the MGS number per sample showed the covariations (wild groups: P = 0.0013**, captive groups: P < 2e− 16***, **P value < 0.01, ***P value < 0.001). D Heatmap of different VFs with seasons. For clarity, only differential VFs shared by wild and captive samples are shown