Abstract
Due to the important role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in ecosystem functioning, determination of the effect of management practices on the AMF diversity in agricultural soils is essential for the sustainability of these agro-ecosystems. The objective of this study was to compare the AMF diversity in Prunus persica roots under two types of fertilisation (inorganic, with or without manure) combined with integrated or chemical pest management in a Venezuelan agro-ecosystem. The AM fungal small-subunit (SSU) rRNA genes were subjected to PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Twenty-one different phylotypes were identified: 15 belonged to the genus Glomus, one to Claroideoglomus, two to Paraglomus, one to Acaulospora, one to Scutellospora and one to Archaeospora. The distribution of the AMF community composition differed as a consequence of the treatment effects. The treatment combining organic and inorganic fertilisation with chemical pest control had the highest AMF richness and the treatment combining inorganic fertilisation with chemical pest had the lowest. The real causes and effects of these differences in the AMF community are very difficult to establish, since the crop management regimes tested were composed of several interacting factors. In conclusion, the crop management practices can exert a significant influence on the populations of AMF. The treatment combining organic and inorganic fertilisation with chemical pest control appears to be the most suitable agricultural management strategy with respect to improving the AMF diversity in this crop under tropical conditions, and thus for maintaining the agricultural and environmental sustainability of this agro-ecosystem.
Highlights
The soil is a complex matrix containing microorganisms that play a key role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems
In a previous study carried out at the site that is the subject of the current work [6], it was found that galls produced in Prunus persica roots due to infection with Meloidogyne incognita were extensively colonized by Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), whose function might be to act as protection agents against opportunistic pathogens
These phylotypes were grouped in five families: the Glomeraceae, Paraglomeraceae, Acaulosporaceae, Gigasporaceae and Archaeosporaceae. Sixteen of these sequence groups belonged to the genus Glomus, two to the genus Paraglomus, one to the genus Acaulospora, one to the genus Scutellospora and one to the genus Archaeospora
Summary
The soil is a complex matrix containing microorganisms that play a key role in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. They mediate many processes, including nutrient cycles, organic matter decomposition, soil aggregate formation and plant performance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the mostimportant soil microorganisms, being obligate symbionts in the roots of most land plants in both natural and agricultural ecosystems, where they increase plant uptake of mineral nutrients, especially phosphorus [1]. Other beneficial effects of AMF are plant growth promotion [2], increased tolerance of drought [3], heavy metals [4] and plant protection agents [5]. The diversity of AMF influences a number of important ecosystem processes, including plant productivity, plant diversity and soil structure [7,8,9]
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