Abstract
With the intensification of desertification in northwest China, drought has become a serious environmental problem restricting plant growth and ecological restoration. Recently, dark septate endophytes (DSEs) have attracted more attention because of their ability to improve plants’ resistance to drought. Here, we investigated DSE colonization and species diversity in roots of Lycium ruthenicum collected from Anxi and Minqin, in northwest China, during July, September, and December 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of seasonality and sampling sites on DSEs. In different seasons, DSE colonization varied with the phenology of L. ruthenicum. At different sites, DSE colonization significantly differed. Four isolates were reported in desert ecosystems for the first time. The results showed microsclerotial colonization was directly affected by changing seasons, while hyphal colonization and species diversity were directly affected by sampling sites. The soil organic carbon, pH, alkaline phosphatase, and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen were the main predictors of DSE colonization and species diversity. We conclude that DSE colonization and diversity showed significant spatial–temporal heterogeneity and were closely related to soil factors. This research provides a basis for the further understanding of the ecological functions of DSEs and their application potential for vegetative restoration and agricultural cultivation in drylands.
Highlights
Drought and desertification are rapidly intensifying in northwest China, where approximately 27% of the land is exposed to desertification [1]
We found the roots of L. ruthenicum to be infected by typical dark septate hyphae and microsclerotia structures, which suggests that dark septate endophytes (DSEs) might be vital components of the roots of L. ruthenicum in desert habitats
Our results showed that sampling sites indirectly affect DSE microsclerotial colonization by influencing SOC, which is known as a vital factor in promoting the colonization of endophytic fungi [53,54]
Summary
Drought and desertification are rapidly intensifying in northwest China, where approximately 27% of the land is exposed to desertification [1]. Drought has become a serious environmental problem restricting plant growth and ecological restoration [2,3]. It is urgent to select appropriate plants with adaption to the arid environment. In order to survive in these conditions many plant species have evolved specialized ways to adapt to desert ecosystems [4]. Special attention has been given to the utilization of these native plants for promoting ecological restoration in desert ecosystems [5]. With the special characteristics of drought and salt resistance, L. ruthenicum is well suited for increasing the nutrient and organic matter content of surface mineral soils in this arid ecosystem and may have the potential to improve soil conditions, facilitate ecosystem development, and delay further desertification. The study of plant-related fungi in arid environments could provide a basis for the application of fungi in agricultural drylands
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