Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Structure in Soybean Roots: Comparison between Kanagawa and Hokkaido, Japan

Katsunori Isobe,Masao Higo,Singo Nagai,Gaku Mizonobe,Tomiya Maekawa,Ryuichi Ishii,Rhae A Drijber,Kohei Maruyama

doi:10.4236/aim.2011.11003

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community structure in colonized roots of soybean cultivated from Kanagawa and Hokkaido in Japan and to relate the community structure to environmental conditions, which included soil type, preceding crops, and soil chemical properties. The average number of AMF OTU (operational taxonomic unit) colonizing soybean roots collected from Kanagawa and Hokkaido was 11.2 and 5.8, respectively, a significant difference. Moreover, AMF from the family Gigasporasera was not identified in soybean roots collected from Hokkaido, suggesting that AMF in the family Gigasporasea is absent or rare in the soybean fields of sampled in Hokkaido. We postulate that the soil type, preceding crops or soil chemical properties are not the underlying factor differentiating AMF community structure colonizing in soybean roots between Kanagawa and Hokkaido. Instead we conclude that temperature and phosphate absorption coefficient are the determining factors of AMF OTU in this study.

Highlights

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one of the most important soil microorganisms, forming symbiotic associations with terrestrial plant roots of most species
We postulate that the soil type, preceding crops or soil chemical properties are not the underlying factor differentiating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community structure colonizing in soybean roots between Kanagawa and Hokkaido
We considered that the AMF spore density in field soil affected by soil condition, for example soil chemical property

Summary

Introduction

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one of the most important soil microorganisms, forming symbiotic associations with terrestrial plant roots of most species. It is well known that AMF improve the uptake of immobile mineral nutrients such as phosphate, thereby benefiting plant growth [1,2,3]. The extent of such benefit varies with the soil environment, available P content and soil moisture. AMF colonization rate was positively correlated with AMF spore density, and negatively with available soil phosphorus. AMF spore density is assumed to be lower in acidic and alkaline soils [5,6]. We considered that the AMF spore density in field soil affected by soil condition, for example soil chemical property

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion