毛乌素沙地典型克隆植物根际AM真菌多样性研究

为阐明毛乌素沙地3种典型克隆植物沙鞭[Psammochloa villosa(Trin.)Bor.]、羊柴(Hedysarum leaveMaxim)和油蒿(Artemisia ordosica Krasch.)根际AM真菌多样性,2006年的5月、7月、10月从毛乌素沙地选取东北缘的中国科学院植物研究所鄂尔多斯沙地草地生态研究站和西南缘的陕西榆林珍稀沙生植物保护基地两个样地,按0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm、30~40 cm、40~50 cm 5个土层采集3种克隆植物根际土壤样品,研究了其根际AM真菌物种多样性和生态分布。在分离出的4属23种AM真菌中,球囊霉属(Glomus)15种,无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)5种,巨孢囊霉属(Gigaspora)2种,盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)1种。摩西球囊霉(G.mosseae)是沙鞭根际的优势种,黑球囊霉(G.melanosporum)是3种克隆植物共同的常见种;不同属种的AM真菌生态分布亦存在差异。AM真菌孢子密度、种的丰度和物种多样性指数均表现为在研究站样地的羊柴根际最高。该研究结果表明,毛乌素沙地的3种典型克隆植物与AM真菌之间形成良好的共生关系,这对开发漠境AM真菌资源和利用菌根生物技术维护沙地生态系统结构的完整性具有重要意义。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in degraded typical steppe of inner Mongolia

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may have some potential use in the restoration of degraded grassland through beneficial effects on plant growth and soil quality. A field investigation was conducted in three grassland sites of typical steppe in Inner Mongolia. The three plant communities, one of which was undegraded, one moderately degraded and the third severely degraded, were studied by collecting soil samples and samples of four plant species that occurred in all three sites. The percentage of root length colonized by AM fungi was estimated and the species composition and diversity of AM fungus spores recovered from the soil were determined using spore morphological characteristics. Although differences between the sites may have been due partly to other factors, it is likely that the degree of degradation was an important factor. No decline was found in the AM colonization of the roots of the indicator plant species in the moderately or severely degraded plant communities, and two plant species showed higher colonization status in the two degraded areas. Glomus geosporum and Scutellospora calospora were the dominant AM fungi in the undegraded steppe, while G. geosporum and Glomus aggregatum dominated the two degraded sites which also had low spore densities, species richness and diversity indices. However, different AM species showed different distributions among the three plant communities and the results indicate that both biotic and abiotic factors were important in determining the AMF communities, with biotic factors possibly the more important. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities from ecosystems along management gradient on the growth of forest understorey plant species

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important functional components of ecosystems. Although there is accumulating knowledge about AMF diversity in different ecosystems, the effect of forest management on diversity and functional characteristics of AMF communities has not been addressed. Here, we used soil inoculum representing three different AM fungal communities (from a young forest stand, an old forest stand and an arable field) in a greenhouse experiment to investigate their effect on the growth of three plant species with contrasting local distributions - Geum rivale, Trifolium pratense and Hypericum maculatum. AM fungal communities in plant roots were analysed using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) method. The effect of natural AMF communities from the old and young forest on the growth of studied plant species was similar. However, the AMF community from the contrasting arable ecosystems increased H. maculatum root and shoot biomass compared with forest inocula and T. pratense root biomass compared to sterile control. According to ordination analysis AMF inocula from old and young forest resulted in similar root AMF communities whilst plants grown with AM fungi from arable field hosted a different AMF community from those grown with old forest inocula. AMF richness in plant roots was not related to the origin of AMF inoculum. G. rivale hosted a significantly different AM fungal community to that of T. pratense and H. maculatum. We conclude that although the composition of AM fungal communities in intensively managed stands differed from that of old stands, the ecosystem can still offer the ‘symbiotic service’ necessary for the restoration of a characteristic old growth understorey plant community.     

Mycorrhizal diversity: Cause and effect?

Mycorrhizal fungi play a critical role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. They improve plant growth and survival through a mutualistic relationship in which photosynthates are exchanged for increased access to water and nutrients. Because the benefits realized are not equal among different plant–fungal species combinations, mycorrhizal fungi may help govern plant community structure and successional trajectories. In fact, both plant productivity and plant diversity have been shown to increase with increasing diversity of mycorrhizal fungi. The diversity and species composition of plant communities also exert a reciprocal influence on associated mycorrhizal communities, although edaphic factors may also play a role. Given this inherent bi-directionality of mycorrhizal relationships, the potential exists for positive feedback mechanisms which may promote and maintain both plant and mycorrhizal fungal diversity. This review considers recent literature on both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungal–plant community relationships within a variety of environments, including artificially constructed systems and naturally occurring grasslands and forests.     

Plant pathogen protection by arbuscular mycorrhizas: A role for fungal diversity?

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can confer protection to host plants against some root pathogens, and several mechanisms for these phenomena have been proposed. If AM fungal taxa vary in the ways that they limit the negative effects of pathogens on host plants, additive and/or synergistic interactions among members of diverse AM fungal assemblages and communities may result in a greater pathogen protection than is currently predicted. However, in a review of the literature on interactions between AM and pathogenic fungi, we found few examples that compared the effectiveness of single- and multi-species AM fungal assemblages. Here, we briefly recount the generally recognized mechanisms of pathogen protection by AM fungi and present evidence, where appropriate, for functional diversity among AM fungal taxa with regard to these mechanisms. We propose that functional complementarity of AM fungal taxa in interactions with pathogens could mimic, or even be the cause of, previously observed relationships between AM fungal diversity and plant productivity.     

How distinct are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associating with grapevines?

Grapevines form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These root-dwelling fungi have the potential to contribute to crop vigor, productivity, pathogen protection, and nutrient content in grapes. In this study the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities of grapevines and the surrounding interrow and native vegetation are compared. We found over 40 different taxa associating with both vines and interrow vegetation, but these communities differed based on host plant identity. These differences were apparent even after accounting for differences in soil chemical properties and differences in host plant diversity between vinerows and interrows, indicating that Vitis preferentially interacts with a subset of the viticultural fungal community. Since AM fungal communities play a major role in grapevine health, our results suggest that host identity and the diversity of AM fungal hosts in a vineyard can have strong effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community structure. In this paper, we used high throughput sequencing of the large subunit rDNA to analyze the diversity of AM fungi growing in a vineyard.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tree-based intercropping systems: A review of their abundance and diversity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are important components of agroecosystems as they form symbiotic associations with the majority of agricultural crops. The mycorrhizal association is normally mutualistic and can provide a number of benefits to the host plant including increased nutrient uptake, improved water relations, and protection from pathogens. However, conventional agricultural practices have been shown to have a negative impact on the abundance and diversity of AM fungi. The use of more diverse and sustainable land use practices such as tree-based intercropping can have the potential to reduce the negative impact of agricultural practices on AM fungi. This paper reviews the literature to investigate the effect of temperate and tropical tree-based intercropping systems on the abundance and diversity of AM fungi. Evidence from these studies suggests that tree-based intercropping systems support a more abundant and diverse AM fungal community compared to conventionally managed systems. However, there are studies that observed zero or negative significant effects on the AM fungal community as a result of incorporating trees into agricultural systems. The variable effect of tree-based intercropping systems on AM fungi observed may be a function of the different cultivation techniques, climatic variation, or diverse tree-crop combinations used within the different tree-based intercropping systems. To further our understanding of AM fungal dynamics in tree-based intercropping systems, future research should focus on the influence of tree species with varying mycorrhizal associations and the functional role of common mycelial networks in these systems, while utilizing applicable molecular techniques.     

Native soil organic matter as a decisive factor to determine the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure in contaminated soils

The present study of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is focused on the identification of AM ecotypes associated with different plants species (Poa annua, Medicago polymorpha, and Malva sylvestris) growing in three contaminated soils with different organic matter, phosphorus, and trace element (TE; Cu, Cd, Mn, and Zn) contents. Soils were amended with biosolid and alperujo compost. Shifts in AM fungal community structure, diversity, richness, root colonization, and plant TE uptake were evaluated. Soil properties and plant species had a significant effect on AM fungal community composition as well as on root colonization. However, AM fungal diversity and richness were only affected by soil properties and especially by soil organic matter that was a major driver of AM fungal community. As soil quality increased, Glomeraceae decreased in favor of Claroideoglomeraceae in the community, AM fungal diversity and richness increased, and root colonization decreased. No effect due to amendment (exogenous organic matter) addition was found either in AM fungal parameters measured or TE plant uptake. Our results revealed that the role of TE contamination was secondary for the fungal community behavior, being the native organic matter content the most significant factor.     

鄱阳湖湿地不同环境条件土壤AM真菌群落特征及其影响因素

丛枝菌根(AM)真菌可以与湿地植物共生，并在湿地生态系统的修复与维护过程中具有重要作用。然而，不同环境条件下湿地土壤AM真菌群落分布特征及其影响因素仍然有待明晰。选择鄱阳湖湿地不同水位条件(高水位和低水位)2种典型植物群落(南荻和水蓼)为研究对象，运用高通量测序技术探究水位和植被类型对鄱阳湖湿地土壤AM真菌群落结构和多样性的影响，比较不同环境条件下AM真菌群落结构和多样性差异，分析其与土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明，AM真菌OTU数为21～38,水位和植被类型影响鄱阳湖湿地土壤AM真菌OTU数，高水位下AM真菌OTU数高于低水位，水蓼群落高于南荻群落。被鉴别出的菌属为Glomus、Claroideoglomus和Paraglomus,其中，Glomus是优势属，占比85%以上，其相对丰度在高水位下显著高于低水位(p<0.05),南荻群落高于水蓼群落。AM真菌多样性指数(Simpson和Shannon指数)受水位和植被类型以及二者交互影响(p<0.01),低水位下不同群落之间的AM真菌多样性指数无显著差异，而高水位下水蓼群落AM真菌多样性指数显著高于南荻群落(p<0.05...     

丛枝菌根真菌在湿地生境中的分布及其在人工湿地中的应用研究进展

Over the last three decades, the presence and functional roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in wetland habitats have received increasing attention. This review summarized the mycorrhizal status in wetlands and the effect of flooding on AM fungal colonization. Plants of 99 families living in 31 different habitats have been found to be associated with AM fungi, even including submerged aquatic plants and several plant species that were thought to be nonmycorrhizal (Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Plumbaginaceae). The functions of AM fungi in wetland ecological systems could be concluded as their influences on the composition, succession, and diversity of the wetland plant community, and the growth and nutrition of wetland plants. Affecting the composition, succession, and diversity of the wetland plant community, AM fungi have positive, negative, or neutral effects on the performance of different wetland species under different conditions. The factors that affect the application effect of AM fungi in constructed wetland (CW) include flooding, phosphorus, plant species, aerenchyma, salinity, CW types, operation modes of CW, and wastewater quality. The generalist AM fungi strains can be established spontaneously, rapidly, and extensively in wastewater bioremediation technical installations; therefore, AM fungi can be considered ideal inhabitants of technical installations for the plant-based bioremediation of groundwater contaminated by organic pollutants or other contaminants. In the future, roles of AM fungi and factors that affect the purifying capacity of AM-CW system must be understood to optimize CW ecosystem.     

Organic acid exudation by mycorrhizal Andropogon virginicus L. (broomsedge) roots in response to aluminum

Elevated aluminum (Al) availability limits plant growth on acidic soils. Although this element is found naturally in soils, acidic conditions create an environment where Al solubility increases and toxic forms of Al impact plant function. Plant resistance to Al is often attributed to organic acid exudation from plant roots and the chelation of cationic Al in the rhizosphere. The association of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi with the roots of plants may alleviate Al toxicity by altering soil Al availability or plant exposure through the binding of Al to fungal structures or through the influence of fungi on exudation from roots. Diverse communities of AM fungi are found in soil ecosystems and research suggests that AM fungi exhibit functional diversity that may influence plant performance under varying edaphic environments. In the present study, we evaluated acidic isolates of six AM species in their responses to Al. Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge), a warm-season grass that commonly grows in a range of stressful environments including acidic soils, was used as a plant host for Acaulospora morrowiae, Glomus claroideum, Glomus clarum, Glomus etunicatum, Paraglomus brasilianum, and Scutellospora heterogama. Fungal spores were germinated and exposed to 0 or 100 μM Al on filter paper in sand culture or were grown and exposed to Al in sand culture in association with A. virginicus. Short- and long-term responses to Al were evaluated using direct measurements of fungal spore germination, hyphal elongation, and measurements of A. virginicus colonization and plant growth as a phytometer of AM function in symbio. Spore germination and hyphal elongation varied among AM species in response to Al, but patterns were not consistent with the influences of these AM species on A. virginicus under Al exposure. Exposure to Al did not influence colonization of roots, although large differences existed in colonization among fungal species. Plants colonized by G. clarum and S. heterogama exhibited the least reduction in growth when exposed to Al, produced the highest concentrations of Al-chelating organic acids, and had the lowest concentrations of free Al in their root zones. This pattern provides evidence that variation among AM fungi in Al resistance conferred to their plant hosts is associated with the exudation of Al-binding organic acids from roots and highlights the role that AM fungal diversity may play in plant performance in acidic soil environments.     

冬麦免耕覆盖栽培对土壤丛枝菌根真菌多样性的影响

为揭示冬麦免耕覆盖栽培管理措施对土壤丛枝菌根真菌多样性的影响,以农田土壤生态系统为研究对象,利用Illumina MiSeq平台通过高通量测序的方法,对连续免耕覆盖栽培及有机肥管理下冬麦土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落组成及其与土壤环境因子间的相互关系进行研究。结果表明,丛枝菌根(AM)真菌在97%相似度下共获得4 515个AM真菌的操作分类单元(OTUs),分属于1门3纲4目8科10属155种。不同处理中,类球囊霉属(Paraglomus),球囊霉属(Glomus)和近明球囊霉(Claroideoglomus)为优势属,受农业综合管理措施中有机肥施用、免耕覆盖因子的影响,近明球囊霉、有隔球囊霉属相对丰度在不同处理间存在显著差异(P<0.05)。与耕作、不覆盖相比,免耕、覆盖措施提高了AM真菌多样性指数,但降低了AM真菌属的丰富度;与无肥条件相比,有机肥施用提高了AM真菌丰富度指数,但降低了AM真菌多样性指数。多元分析结果表明,土壤全磷及速效磷含量是影响AM真菌群落组成中优势属丰度变化的主要因素。免耕覆盖、有机栽培改变了土壤AM真菌的多样性及丰富度,土壤中丰度较低的AM真菌菌属更容易受到有机肥施用的影响;有机肥与免耕、覆盖管理的交互作用对AM真菌近明球囊霉属相对丰度有显著影响(P<0.05)。AM真菌群落对耕作覆盖、有机肥施用管理活动的响应受到农业综合管理活动及其相关因素交互作用的影响。本研究结果为合理农作物免耕覆盖、有机栽培管理提供了理论依据。     

降水变化和氮沉降对荒漠草原土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落结构的影响

降水变化和氮沉降是影响植物、微生物和土壤环境变化的两个重要方面。尽管丛枝菌根（AM）真菌在陆地生态系统中起着至关重要的作用，但人们对降水变化和氮添加如何交互影响AM真菌群落仍知之甚少。本研究以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象，采用裂区设计，主区为自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R)三个水分梯度，副区为0(N0)，30(N30)，50(N50)和100(N100) kg?hm-2?a-1 四个氮素梯度共12个处理，通过高通量测序分析了土壤中AM真菌群落的多样性和组成。结果发现，水分处理对土壤AM真菌的Alpha多样性有促进作用，氮素处理抑制了土壤AM真菌的Alpha多样性，水分增加和氮素添加的交互作用促进了AM真菌的Alpha多样性增加，并改变了土壤AM真菌群落组成。水分和氮素刺激了各功能型植物生物量的增加，氮添加使多年生杂草和半灌木、小半灌木生物量显著增加，多年生禾草生物量显著减少。此外，多型孢子菌科的相对丰度与一二年生植物和半灌木、小半灌木生物量呈显著正相关，一二年生植物和半灌木、小半灌木生物量在氮添加和增雨处理下增加。本研究证明了AM真菌群落在短期气候变化下的稳定性。此外，AM真菌在科水平上的丰度与各生活型植物地上生物量的相关性证明了地上和地下生态系统的连通性。     

The impact of biological pesticides on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have a key role for plant nutrition in organic farming systems where crop protection relies on biopesticides. Although these are considered safe, their effects on non-target organisms, such as AM fungi, are not known and should be evaluated. A pot and a field experiment were employed to investigate the impact of biological pesticides (azadirachtin, spinosad, pyrethrum and terpens) on exogenous AM fungal inoculum (pots) and on indigenous AM fungi (field). The synthetic fungicide carbendazim and non-pesticide treated controls with or without mycorrhizal inoculation were also included. Plant growth and root colonization were measured 20 and 40 days post inoculation (dpi) in the pot experiment, or 40 and 90 dpi in the field study. Pesticide effects on the structure of the intraradical AM fungal community were determined via DGGE and cloning. Spinosad, pyrethrum and terpenes did not affect the colonization ability and the structure of the AM fungal community. On the contrary, pot application of azadirachtin resulted in a selective inhibition of the Glomus etunicatum strain of the inoculum. DGGE analysis showed that the field application of azadirachtin induced significant and persistent shifts in the AM fungal community. Carbendazim completely hampered mycorrhizal colonization in pots, compared to its field application which had a transitory effect on the colonization ability and the community structure of indigenous AM fungi. Our study provides first evidence for the effects of biological pesticides on the diversity of AM fungi.     

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in red tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) rootstock rhizospheric soils from hillside citrus orchards

Root colonization, abundance of spores and hyphae, as well as species diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were analyzed in citrus orchards along an altitudinal gradient. The citrus trees were heavily colonized (50.87–77.45%) by native AM fungi. In citrus orchards located at <600 m above sea level (asl), we recorded more extensive hyphal and arbuscular colonization, and higher spore and hyphal length density. AM fungal colonization, spore density, and hyphal length density were closely correlated with edaphic factors such as available phosphorus, pH, and organic matter. A total of 18 AM fungal species belonging to 3 different orders, Archaeosporales (1 species), Diversisporales (7 species) and Glomerales (10 species), were identified on the basis of spore morphological characteristics. In orchards located at higher altitudes (≥700 m asl), we observed a significant decrease in species richness and Shannon–Wiener index values. However, in all of the surveyed orchards, Glomus aggregatum, Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices were the dominant species. Isolate frequency and relative abundance of AM fungi exhibited clearly distinct distribution patterns among taxonomic families. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the AM fungal community structure was significantly influenced by environmental factors, especially altitude, pH, soil moisture, and available nitrogen. Our data indicated that environmental factors are important in determining AM fungal root colonization, propagule numbers, and species diversity in citrus orchards.     

Plant type differently promote the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biodiversity in the rhizosphere after revegetation of a degraded, semiarid land

It is suggested that the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their association with distinct plants species are crucial in the early stages of revegetation procedures since the AMF roots colonisation plays an important role improving plant establishment and growth. We carried out a study where we analyse the AMF community composition in the roots of Ephedra fragilis, Rhamnus lycioides, Pistacia lentiscus and Retama sphaerocarpa fourteen months after revegetation in a Mediterranean semiarid degraded area of southeast Spain in order to verify whether different plant species can variably promote the diversity of AM fungi in their rhizospheres after planted. We analysed a portion of approximately 795 bases pairs of the small-subunit ribosomal DNA by means of nested PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Eight fungal sequence types belonging to Glomus group A and B and to the genus Paraglomus were identified. The different plant species had different AM fungal community composition. Thus, R. lycioides harboured the highest number of four fungal sequence types while from E. fragilis only two types could be characterized that were specific for this plant species. P. lentiscus and R. sphaerocarpa harboured each one three sequence types and two of them were shared. All AMF sequence types were found in the natural soil. These results show that one effective way of restoring degraded lands is to increase the number of plant species used, which would increase the AMF diversity in the soil and thus the below-ground, positive interactions.     

Temporal and compositional differences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in conventional monocropping and tree-based intercropping systems

Previous research has found that conventional agricultural systems adversely affect arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, there is little information on how more ecologically sustainable agricultural practices such as tree-based intercropping (TBI) influence AM fungal communities. In this study, we investigated whether TBI promotes a more abundant and diverse AM fungal community compared to conventional monocropping (CM). Abundance was estimated by measuring spore abundance and hyphal length in soil, and AM fungal colonization of corn (Zea mays) roots. Overall, AM fungal abundance was similar in both systems as corn roots from the CM and TBI systems were heavily colonized (>50%) by AM fungi throughout the growing season. Additionally, soil samples from the CM and TBI systems contained similar spore densities and hyphal length. Molecular analysis of the AM fungal community was assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of large subunit rRNA genes amplified from roots in the two cropping systems. A total of fourteen AM fungal phylotypes that belonged to the Glomeraceae were found in the two cropping systems. The TBI system had a higher AM fungal richness and contained several taxa not found in the CM system. Molecular analysis of AM fungal communities also revealed significant temporal and compositional differences between the TBI and CM systems. Within the TBI system, tree species differentially influenced the AM fungal community composition in the alley cropping regions. Future research should focus on determining whether compositional differences among AM fungal communities in CM and TBI systems have a functional effect on crop growth and productivity.     

Mycorrhizal inoculation affects arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity in watermelon roots,but leads to improved colonization and plant response under water stress only

Horticultural crops in the Mediterranean basin have to cope with severe drought conditions. The effect of inoculating watermelon plants grown under limited water availability conditions with AM fungi on the fruit yield, water use efficiency (WUE), root-N and -P content was examined. We focused on the impact of watering level and inoculation with allochthonous AM fungi on the diversity and presence of AM fungi in the watermelon roots using molecular techniques. An open field experiment was conducted and plants were grown with (M) and without AM fungal inoculum (NM), subjected to water stress (NW) and no stress conditions (W). Suboptimal water application (NW) resulted in significant reduction of fruit yield, root-N and -P content. Inoculation of plants grown under water stress resulted in a significant increase of WUE (19%), fruit yield (19%), root-N (27%) and -P (40%). However, only root-P responded to AM inoculation under non water stress conditions demonstrating 23% increase in M plants. DNA extracted from root samples was subjected to PCR–DGGE analysis. The native mycorrhizal population colonized watermelon roots, as indicated by DGGE bands in NM treatments. Some members of this colonizer community appear sensitive to the introduction of allochthonous inocula and to water stress conditions. Cloning and sequencing of AM fungi revealed that watermelon roots were colonized by Glomus and Paraglomus species. A TaqMan real-time PCR assay was also carried out targeting the 18S rRNA gene for the quantification of AM nucleic acids. The 18S rRNA copy numbers of AM fungi were significantly increased in M plants compared to NM plants under water stress. On the contrary, under non stress conditions M and NM plants did not show significant differences, indicating that inoculation with AM fungi was related to the response of plants to water stress conditions. Principle coordinate analysis of the DGGE banding patterns showed that the diversity of AM fungal colonizers was strongly affected (i) by inoculation and (ii) by water stress in the inoculated plants. Inoculation affected fungal presence under water limitation conditions only. The latter was in line with the significant beneficial effect of inoculation on both WUE and yield only under water limitation.     

Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizas in three vegetational types from the semiarid of Ceará State,Brazil

Semiarid lands are the object of a limited number of studies, very few among them aimed at characterizing root-associated fungal communities. The diverse vegetation occurring in the tropical dry forest from the Ceará State, Brazil, core area of the Brazilian tropical semiarid, has been attributed to its soil, topography and climatic variation. However, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis may have an important role in the function of these ecosystems. We examined AM association in 29 semiarid Brazilian species from three different locations: thorny dry woody savanna vegetation, known as caatinga; non-thorny dry forest and closed, non thorny dry tall-shrubby vegetation, known as carrasco. AM fungal diversity was also compared among the different sites. Twenty of the 22 trees and two of the seven herbs examined had AM association. Arum-type AM morphology was the dominant association occurring in 19 trees and in 3 hemicryptophyte plants. AM morphology is reported for the first time in 21 trees and two herbaceous species. Over the different sites, spore densities in the soil ranged from 5 to 32 per 100 g air-dried soil. Spores of 32 AM fungal taxa were isolated from the soil samples of trees of which twelve belonged to Acaulospora, two to Scutellospora, three to Gigaspora, four to Racocetra, three to Glomus, one to Clareoideoglomus, one to Ambispora, one to Pacispora, one to Sclerocystis, one to Dentiscutata, one to Orbispora, one to Quatunica and one to Entrophospora. Species richness was high in woody caatinga and Glomus macrocarpum, Gigaspora gigantea and Cetraspora pellucida were the most frequent species at different sites. Species diversity (Shannon–Weaver index) did not differ significantly among sites. Water content and phosphorus availability was found to influence the AMF species composition at the plant community level, providing information about the caatinga dominium biodiversity, mainly for its conservation.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure and diversity in response to 3-year conservation tillage management in a sandy loam soil in North China

Purpose

Modern agricultural science has greatly reduced the use of tillage. Monitoring conservation versus conventional tillage effects on soil microbes could improve our understanding of soil biochemical processes and thus help us to develop sound management strategies. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of conservation tillage on the spore community structure and the diversity of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and to find out the main factors that influence these parameters.

Materials and methods

A long-term field experiment established in a sandy loam soil in Northern China has received continuous tillage management treatments for 3?years, including conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), and alternating tillage (AT). Topsoil samples (0?C15?cm) from four individual plots per treatment were collected for the analysis of chemical properties and fungal parameters. AM fungal spores were isolated using the wet-sieving method and identified to species level based on morphology by light microscopy. The community structure and the diversity of AM fungi were evaluated using the following parameters: spore density, relative abundance, species richness, Shannon?CWiener index (H??), evenness (E), and Simpson's index (D). Jaccard index (J) of similarity was calculated to compare AM fungal species composition under different treatments.

Results and discussion

Twenty-eight species of AM fungi within four genera, Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, and Entrophospora, were recovered from the 12 plots within the three tillage management treatments. Higher spore density, species richness, and species diversity (H??, E, and D) of AM fungi were observed in the two conservation tillage treatments, and the redundancy analysis showed that the species richness significantly correlated to soil organic carbon content (P?<?0.05). The positive effects of NT and AT on the species richness were very close, while the AT had relatively greater beneficial impacts on the spore density and the evenness of AM fungi compared to the NT. The lowest Jaccard index (J) of similarity in species composition was also observed between the AT and CT treatments.

Conclusions

Soil organic carbon, the spore density, and species richness and diversity of AM fungi increased in the two conservation tillage treatments. The species richness of AM fungi significantly correlated to soil organic carbon content (P?<?0.05). Compared with the CT treatment, the AT rather than the NT significantly increased the spore density and the evenness of AM fungi (P?<?0.05). Thus, alternating tillage practice may be more beneficial to agroecosystem in this region.