Abstract
ABSTRACT Brazil has extensive degraded areas, where vegetation fails to establish due to harsh soil conditions. However, some invasive species such as Urochloa decumbens are successful pioneers in such areas, but the reasons deserve investigation. Mycorrhizal fungi are abundant in Cerrado soils, and their association with plants are beneficial for their establishment in natural and degraded areas. This study investigated whether arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of native and exotic plants in the Cerrado differs between pristine and degraded areas. We collected 135 plants from four functional groups in 68 areas and determined the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. The invasive grass Urochloa decumbens had significantly higher colonization rates in degraded than in native areas, and higher colonization than the native species. These results are important for soil management since Urochloa decumbens is widely used in early soil restoration efforts, and for nature conservation concerning the management of invasive plants in restoration areas.
Highlights
Soils contain a diverse array of microorganisms, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) amongst them
This study investigated whether arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of native and exotic plants in the Cerrado differs between pristine and degraded areas
The invasive grass Urochloa decumbens had significantly higher colonization rates in degraded than in native areas, and higher colonization than the native species. These results are important for soil management since Urochloa decumbens is widely used in early soil restoration efforts, and for nature conservation concerning the management of invasive plants in restoration areas
Summary
Soils contain a diverse array of microorganisms, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) amongst them These form symbiotic associations with roots of approximately 80% of all vascular terrestrial plants (Berruti et al, 2015). In this association, the plant gets nutrients and water from areas inaccessible to the roots, whereas the heterotrophic microbe receives organic carbon compounds produced by the plant through photosynthesis. The plant gets nutrients and water from areas inaccessible to the roots, whereas the heterotrophic microbe receives organic carbon compounds produced by the plant through photosynthesis In this realm, AMF creates a positive effect on life of higher plants, in sites with low water and mineral nutrient availability (Blume et al, 2016). This grass acts protecting the soil and inducing the accumulation of organic matter (Rosa et al, 2014) and phosphorus in the soil (Vendruscolo et al, 2016), which can further facilitate the development of higher vegetation composed by shrubs and trees. Kitamura et al (2008) recommends the use of Urochloa decumbens in the process of restoration of degraded areas because it prevents the physical impacts of rain on the soils, enhances the soil organic matter content and helps the formation of soil aggregates, facilitating root penetration and microbial life
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