Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Communities in the Roots of Sago Palm in Mineral and Shallow Peat Soils

Koki Asano,Muhamad Syukrie Abu Talip,Toshiyuki Isoi,Hiroshi Ehara,Willy Vincent Anak Kagong,Margaret Kit Yok Chan,Kurumi Sakazaki,Mana Kano-Nakata,Siti Sahmsiah Sahmat,Siraj Munir Bin Mohammad

doi:10.3390/agriculture11111161

Koki Asano, Muhamad Syukrie Abu Talip + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11111161

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Abstract

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in plant roots improve host plant growth. In this study, AMF communities in the roots of the sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) were investigated in mineral soil (MS) and shallow peat soil (SPS) in Sarawak, Malaysia. MS exhibited lower moisture content (MS, 38.1; SPS, 79.8%), higher pH (H2O) (MS, 4.6; SPS, 4.1), higher soil bulk density (MS, 1.03; SPS, 0.20 g cm−3), and higher nitrogen content (MS, 16.9; SPS, 2.7 kg m−3) than SPS at the same soil depth, while the phosphorus (P) content (Bray II) (MS, 1.6; SPS, 1.9 g P2O5 m−3) was similar. The AMF colonization rate was significantly lower in SPS (39.2 ± 12.5%) than in MS (73.2 ± 4.6%). The higher number of AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was detected by amplicon sequencing of the partial small-subunit rRNA gene (MS, 78; SPS, 50). A neighbor-joining tree of obtained OTUs revealed that they belonged to Acaulosporaceae, Ambisporaceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Gigasporaceae, and Glomeraceae. The lower abundance and diversity of AMF in SPS are possibly caused by abiotic factors, including soil physicochemical properties. Glomus and Acaulospora species detected in SPS might have strong tolerance against acidity and high soil moisture content.

Highlights

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu, Arecaceae) produces more than 300 kg of dry starch per plant in its trunk
The soil moisture content was lower in mineral soil (MS) (38.1%) than in shallow peat soil (SPS), and it decreased with the increasing soil depth in SPS
Our results indicate that the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community of sago palm in MS and SPS show a similar pattern with other palm species, but the soil type changes the composition and abundance of AMF community

Summary

Introduction

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu, Arecaceae) produces more than 300 kg of dry starch per plant in its trunk. It is distributed across parts of Southeast Asia and northwestern Melanesia, including Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands [1]. Malaysia, is one of the most prominent areas for sago flour production. In this region, sago cultivation has been conducted mainly in peatland [2]. While almost no other major crops can grow without drainage or soil improvement, sago palm species can grow in tropical peat soil [3], the period of growth required before the first harvest of sago palms is delayed in peat soil (12.7 years) as compared to mineral soil (9.8 years) [4]

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