Diversity Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Research Articles

Sex-specific phosphorus acquisition strategies and cycling in dioecious Populus euphratica forests along a natural water availability gradient.

Soil phosphorus (P) availability affects plant growth and distribution. However, it is still unknown how sex-specific variation in functional traits affects plants' P acquisition and soil P transformation. On wet sites, female poplars had a greater specific root length (SRL), and a higher diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Male poplars living on wet sites increased the abundance of AMF and PSB communities and enhanced moderately labile and highly resistant organic P mineralisation via increased phosphatase activity. In contrast, on the dry site, the abundance and diversity of AMF and PSB communities increased in females, enhancing moderately labile and highly resistant organic P mineralisation via elevating phosphatase activities. Males maintained greater SRL and promoted Ca-P mobilisation via the release of root carboxylic acids and rhizosphere acidification on the dry site. The AMF community diversity followed a similar pattern as that of the PSB community when altering the P availability of different-sex plants. Our results indicated that organic P and Ca-P are the major sources of plant-available P in natural P. euphratica forests. Seasonal shifts and geographic locations affected the share of organic and inorganic P pools, and AMF and PSB diversities, ultimately altering sex-specific P acquisition strategies of plants.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza and rhizosphere soil enzymatic activities as modulated by grazing intensity and plant species identity in a semi-arid grassland

Understanding the symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with plants in relation to soil nutrients and enzyme activities under different grazing intensities can be an important guide for the management and protection of semi-arid grasslands. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how the interaction of grazing intensity and plants shapes the composition of AMF communities and enzyme activities in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem in Iran. Sampling focused three dominant plant species (i.e., Salsola laricina, Artemisia siberia, and Stipa hohenackeriana) at sites with different grazing intensities. Soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, root colonization by AMF and AMF communities in the roots were evaluated. Potassium and nitrogen, as well as alkaline phosphatase and urease enzymatic activities were significantly increased at the heavily grazed site, whereas root colonization by AMF was reduced by the high grazing intensity. In addition, AM fungal root colonization is dependent on the host plant species and easier to measure as a sensitive indicator of sustainable grazing. Neither plant species nor grazing intensity affected AM fungal diversity in roots, which could be due to the overall low phylogenetic diversity of AMF in the grassland and the lack of significant differences in soil humidity, pH and organic carbon between the sites. However, plant species and soil properties were the two factors explaining variation in AMF community composition, while grazing had no significant effect. Therefore, AMF communities in root of the semi-arid grassland plants responded largely to plant type rather than to grazing intensity.

Drivers of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity Across 1,000 km of Chilean Vineyards

Drivers of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity Across 1,000 km of Chilean Vineyards

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of the Rhizosphere of Lycium barbarum L. from Four Main Producing Areas in Northwest China and Their Effect on Plant Growth.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can help plants absorb more mineral nutrients after they colonize plant roots, and the mycelia harmonize the soil structure and physical and chemical properties by secreting compounds. AMF species co-evolve with their habitat's geographic conditions and hosts; this gradually causes differences in the AMF species. By using Melzer's reagent to analyze the morphology and using Illumina Miseq sequencing technology to perform the molecular identification of AMF communities among the four typical L. barbarum planting areas (Zhongning, Guyuan, Jinghe, and Dulan) investigated, the variety of L. barbarum roots and rhizosphere AMF communities was greater in the Zhongning area, and every region additionally had endemic species. The successfully amplified AMF was re-applied to the L. barbarum seedlings. We found that the total dry weight and accumulation of potassium increased significantly (p < 0.05), and the root volume and number of root branches were significantly higher in the plants that were inoculated with Paraglomus VTX00375 in the pot experiment, indicating that AMF improves root development and promotes plant growth. We have investigated AMF germplasm species in four regions, and we are committed to the development of native AMF resources. The multiplication and application of AMF will be conducive to realizing the potential role of biology in the maintenance of agroecology.

Impacts of Managed Vegetation Restoration on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Diazotrophs in Karst Ecosystems.

The crucial functional arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and diazotrophs play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling during vegetation restoration. However, the impact of managed vegetation restoration strategies on AMF and diazotroph communities remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the community structure and diversity of AMF and diazotrophs in a karst region undergoing managed vegetation restoration from cropland. Soil samples were collected from soils under three vegetation restoration strategies, plantation forest (PF), forage grass (FG), and a mixture of plantation forest and forage grass (FF), along with a control for cropland rotation (CR). The diversity of both AMF and diazotrophs was impacted by managed vegetation restoration. Specifically, the AMF Shannon index was higher in CR and PF compared to FF. Conversely, diazotroph richness was lower in CR, PF, and FG than in FF. Furthermore, both AMF and diazotroph community compositions differed between CR and FF. The relative abundance of AMF taxa, such as Glomus, was lower in FF compared to the other three land-use types, while Racocetra showed the opposite trend. Among diazotroph taxa, the relative abundance of Anabaena, Nostoc, and Rhizobium was higher in FF than in CR. Soil properties such as total potassium, available potassium, pH, and total nitrogen were identified as the main factors influencing AMF and diazotroph diversity. These findings suggest that AMF and diazotroph communities were more sensitive to FF rather than PF and FG after managed vegetation restoration from cropland, despite similar levels of soil nutrients among PF, FG, and FF. Consequently, the integration of diverse economic tree species and forage grasses in mixed plantations notably altered the diversity and species composition of AMF and diazotrophs, primarily through the promotion of biocrust formation and root establishment.

Interplay of soil characteristics and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in alpine wetland restoration and carbon stabilization.

Alpine wetlands are critical ecosystems for global carbon (C) cycling and climate change mitigation. Ecological restoration projects for alpine grazing wetlands are urgently needed, especially due to their critical role as carbon (C) sinks. However, the fate of the C pool in alpine wetlands after restoration from grazing remains unclear. In this study, soil samples from both grazed and restored wetlands in Zoige (near Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province, China) were collected to analyze soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), soil properties, and plant biomass. Moreover, the Tea Bag Index (TBI) was applied to assess the initial decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S), providing a novel perspective on SOC dynamics. The results of this research revealed that the mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) was 1.40 times higher in restored sites compared to grazed sites, although no significant difference in particulate organic carbon (POC) was detected between the two site types. Furthermore, the increased MAOC after restoration exhibited a significant positive correlation with various parameters including S, C and N content, aboveground biomass, WSOC, AMF diversity, and NH4+. This indicates that restoration significantly increases plant primary production, litter turnover, soil characteristics, and AMF diversity, thereby enhancing the C stabilization capacity of alpine wetland soils.

Common soil history is more important than plant history for arbuscular mycorrhizal community assembly in an experimental grassland diversity gradient

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning strengthens with ecosystem age. However, the interplay between the plant diversity - ecosystem functioning relationship and Glomeromycotinian arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community assembly has not yet been scrutinized in this context, despite AMF’s role in plant survival and niche exploration. We study the development of AMF communities by disentangling soil- and plant-driven effects from calendar year effects. Within a long-term grassland biodiversity experiment, the pre-existing plant communities of varying plant diversity were re-established as split plots with combinations of common plant and soil histories: split plots with neither common plant nor soil history, with only soil but no plant history, and with both common plant and soil history. We found that bulk soil AMF communities were primarily shaped by common soil history, and additional common plant history had little effect. Further, the steepness of AMF diversity and plant diversity relationship did not strengthen over time, but AMF community evenness increased with common history. Specialisation of AMF towards plant species was low throughout, giving no indication of AMF communities specialising or diversifying over time. The potential of bulk soil AMF as mediators of variation in plant and microbial biomass over time and hence as drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem relationships was low. Our results suggest that soil processes may be key for the build-up of plant community-specific mycorrhizal communities with likely feedback effects on ecosystem productivity, but the plant-available mycorrhizal pool in bulk soil itself does not explain the strengthening of biodiversity and ecosystem relationships over time.

Plant and soil responses to tillage practices change arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi populations during crop growth.

Tillage practices can substantially affect soil properties depending on crop stage. The interaction between tillage and crop growth on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities remains unclear. We investigated the interactions between four tillage treatments (CT: conventional tillage, RT: reduced tillage, NT: no tillage with mulch, and SS: subsoiling with mulch), maintained for 25 years, and two wheat growth stages (elongation stage and grain filling stage) on AMF diversity and community composition. The AMF community composition strongly changed during wheat growth, mainly because of changes in the relative abundance of dominant genera Claroideoglomus, Funneliformi, Rhizophagu, Entrophospora, and Glomus. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the grain filling stage had a more complex network than the elongation stage. Redundancy analysis results showed that keystone genera respond mainly to changes in soil organic carbon during elongation stage, whereas the total nitrogen content affected the keystone genera during grain filling. Compared with CT, the treatments with mulch, i.e., NT and SS, significantly changed the AMF community composition. The change of AMF communities under different tillage practices depended on wheat biomass and soil nutrients. NT significantly increased the relative abundances of Glomus and Septoglomus, while RT significantly increased the relative abundance of Claroideoglomus. Our findings indicate that the relative abundance of dominant genera changed during wheat growth stages. Proper tillage practices (e.g., NT and SS) benefit the long-term sustainable development of the Loess Plateau cropping systems.

Characteristics of the Rhizospheric AMF Community and Nutrient Contents of the Dominant Grasses in Four Microhabitats of the Subalpine Zone in Northwestern Yunnan, China

At the southeastern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau, the subalpine ecosystem hosts grasses as some of the most substantial species. However, the community and function of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) around the rhizospheres of grasses in the subalpine zone are still poorly understood. In the present study, 28 soils and 11 species of dominant grasses collected from four microhabitats (shrubland, grassland, woodland, and forest) in the subalpine zone of northwestern Yunnan, China, were used to investigate the AMF community by Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology as well as nutrient contents. Among the four microhabitats, the maximum soil nutrient levels around the rhizospheres of grasses were observed in woodland. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations in Dactylis glomerata shoots were significantly higher than those in the other 10 grass species. The AMF diversity of grassland in summer was substantially greater than that of the other three microhabitats (p &lt; 0.05). Discrepancies were observed within a given plant species across microhabitats; for example, in summer, the nitrogen concentration in the shoot of Iris tectorum in woodland was significantly higher than that in both forest and shrubland (p &lt; 0.05). A total of eight genera were detected in the AMF communities, which were dominated by Glomus, with a relative abundance of 45.4–94.4% in summer and 60.5–84.3% in winter. Moreover, the abundance of Glomus was significantly positively correlated with the content of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen in soil and nitrogen in grasses according to the Mantel test. As a critical nutrient element in soil, nitrogen is beneficial for plant growth. Thus, these results provide a better understanding of the resilience of soil AMF community and the ecological adaptability of grasses in the subalpine ecosystems of northwestern Yunnan.

Interactions between halotolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under saline stress.

Soil salinity negatively affects crop development. Halotolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria (HNFB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential microorganisms that enhance crop nutrient availability and salt tolerance in saline soils. Studying the impact of HNFB on AMF communities and using HNFB in biofertilizers can help in selecting the optimal HNFB-AMF combinations to improve crop productivity in saline soils. We established three experimental groups comprising apple plants treated with low-nitrogen (0 mg N/kg, N0), normal-nitrogen (200 mg N/kg, N1), and high-nitrogen (300 mg N/kg, N2) fertilizer under salt stress without bacteria (CK, with the addition of 1,500 mL sterile water +2 g sterile diatomite), or with bacteria [BIO, with the addition of 1,500 mL sterile water +2 g mixed bacterial preparation (including Bacillus subtilis HG-15 and Bacillus velezensis JC-K3)]. HNFB inoculation significantly increased microbial biomass and the relative abundance of beta-glucosidase-related genes in the rhizosphere soil under identical nitrogen application levels (p < 0.05). High-nitrogen treatment significantly reduced AMF diversity and the relative abundance of beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and urea-related genes. A two-way analysis of variance showed that combined nitrogen application and HNFB treatment could significantly affect soil physicochemical properties and rhizosphere AMF abundance (p < 0.05). Specifically, HNFB application resulted in a significantly higher relative abundance of Glomus-MO-G17-VTX00114 compared to that in the CK group at equal nitrogen levels. The impact of HNFB on the AMF community in apple rhizospheres is influenced by soil nitrogen levels. The study reveals how varying nitrogen levels mediate the relationship between exogenous HNFB, soil properties, and rhizosphere microbes.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity associated with an endangered species, Chamaecyparis formosensis, in the nature habitat

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity associated with an endangered species, Chamaecyparis formosensis, in the nature habitat

Facultative mycorrhization in a fern (Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss) is bound to light intensity

BackgroundThe establishment of mycorrhizal relationships between a fungus and a plant typically enhances nutrient and water uptake for the latter while securing a carbon source for the fungus. However, under a particular set of environmental conditions, such as low availability of light and abundant nutrients in the soil, the resources invested in the maintenance of the fungi surpass the benefits obtained by the host. In those cases, facultative mycorrhizal plants are capable of surviving without symbiosis. Facultative mycorrhization in ferns has been overlooked until now. The present study measured the response of Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss, and its root-associated fungi to different levels of light and nutrient availability in terms of growth, mycorrhizal presence, and leaf nutrient content. This fern species exhibits a great tolerance to variable light, nutrient, and pH conditions, and it has been found with and without mycorrhizae. We conducted a greenhouse experiment with 80 specimens of S. spicant and three factors (Light, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen) resulting in eight treatments.ResultsWe found a significant influence of the factor light on fungal community composition, plant biomass, and nutrient accumulation. Departing from a lack of colonization at the initial stage, plants showed a remarkable increment of more than 80% in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) richness and abundance in their roots when grown under high light conditions, compared with the ones in low light. We also observed an upward trend of C:P and C:N ratios and the above- and belowground biomass production when AMF abundance increased. Furthermore, the compositional analysis of the whole fungal communities associated with S. spicant roots revealed clear differences among low-light and high-light treatments.ConclusionsThis study is the first to investigate the importance of light and nutrient availability in determining fern-AMF relationships. We confirmed that Struthiopteris spicant is a facultative mycorrhizal plant. The composition and diversity of AMF found in the roots of this fern are strongly influenced by light and less by nutrient conditions. Our study shows that ferns respond very sensitively to changes in environmental factors, leading to shifts in the associated mycorrhizal communities.

Host plants directly determine the α diversity of rhizosphere arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the National Tropical Fruit Tree Field Genebank

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) typically exhibit reduced diversity in nutrient-rich soils. However, whether the influence of host plants on AMF within the rhizosphere is direct or indirect through the alteration of soil nutrient levels has yet to be determined. This study explored the diversity and colonization of AMF in the National Tropical Fruit Tree Genebank, where chemical fertilizers are used to preserve minor tropical fruit germplasms. We aimed to understand the direct and indirect effects of host plants on AMF community dynamics, sporulation, and colonization. By analyzing fine roots and rhizosphere soil from 12 tropical fruit trees, we assessed mycorrhizal colonization indices, soil nutrients, AMF spore density, and community structure. Despite their low colonization density and arbuscular abundance, all the tree roots harbored AMF, with spore densities ranging from 24.00 to 204.80 spores/100 g of dry soil. High-throughput sequencing identified 207 AMF virtual taxa (VTs) from 60 soil samples, with dominant taxa, including early-evolved Paraglomus fungi and ruderal AMF, being minimally affected by soil nutrient levels. Interestingly, there was no correlation between α diversity and spore density. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that host plant evolutionary divergence time (ET) directly influenced AMF α diversity indices and indirectly impacted spore density via soil nutrients. However, neither ETs nor soil nutrients significantly affected the AMF community structure, with only arbuscular abundance showing a negative correlation with ET. This research underscores the intricate relationship between host plants and AMF in genebanks, offering insights for effective AMF resource management and informed conservation practices.Graphical

Dosage and exposure time effects of two micro(nono)plastics on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in two farmland soils planted with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

As emerging environmental pollutants, micro(nano)plastics (MPs) like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) have adverse effects on terrestrial biota and ecosystem function. However, the performance and roles of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in MPs-contaminated vegetable fields are poorly understood. Thus, a 120-day pot experiment was conducted to test the impacts of two input levels of either PET (~13 μm) or LDPE (~500 nm) on AM fungal diversity and pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) growth in two farmland soils collected from Nanjing (NJ) and Chongqing (CQ), respectively. In the vast majority of cases, 1 % rather than 0.1 % of both MPs greatly decreased the observed richness, Shannon and Simpson's indices, and Pielou's evenness of AM fungi, and decreased mycorrhizal colonization, root and shoot biomasses, fruit yield, and leaf superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of pepper, while increased leaf malondialdehyde content. From day 40 to 120, the inhibition of either diversity or vitality of AM fungi by 1 % and 0.1 % of MPs gradually increased and weakened, respectively. Compared with PET, LDPE with substantially smaller particle size was more toxic to mycorrhization at day 40, but no longer at day 120. Almost all plant parameters significantly correlated to mycorrhizal colonization, which significantly correlated to both Shannon and Simpson's indices of AM fungi, and soil pH, available P and K concentrations, and alkaline phosphatase activity. All diversity indices of AM fungi clearly negatively correlated to soil pH from 4.4 to 5.6 for the NJ soil and from 5.3 to 6.5 for the CQ soil, and also positively to mineral N and negatively to available P concentrations for the NJ and CQ soils, respectively. Thus, the study emphasized that high input of MPs significantly inhibited soil AM fungal diversity and vitality and thereby vegetable growth via changing soil pH and major nutrient availability.

Influence of plant species, mycorrhizal inoculant, and soil phosphorus level on arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in onion and carrot roots.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient and ecologically important symbionts that colonize plant roots. These symbionts assist in the uptake of water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil. This important role has led to the development of AMF inoculants for use as biofertilizers in agriculture. Commercial mycorrhizal inoculants are increasingly popular to produce onion and carrot, but their specific effects on native mycorrhizal communities under field conditions are not known. Furthermore, adequate availability of nutrients in soils, specifically phosphorus, can reduce the diversity and abundance of AMF communities in the roots. The type of crop grown can also influence the composition of AMF communities colonizing the plant roots. This study aimed to investigate how AMF inoculants, soil phosphorus levels, and plant species influence the diversity of AMF communities that colonize the roots of onion and carrot plants. Field trials were conducted on high organic matter (muck) soil in the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Canada. The treatments included AMF-coated seeds (three to five propagules of Rhizophagus irregularis per seed) and non-treated onion and carrot seeds grown in soil with low (~46 ppm) and high (~78 ppm) phosphorus levels. The mycorrhizal communities colonizing the onion and carrot roots were identified by Illumina sequencing. Five genera, Diversispora, Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and Glomus, were identified in roots of both plant species. AMF communities colonizing carrot roots were more diverse and richer than those colonizing onion roots. Diversispora and Funneliformis had a 1.3-fold and 2.9-fold greater abundance, respectively, in onion roots compared to carrots. Claroideoglomus was 1.4-fold more abundant in carrot roots than in onions. Inoculation with R. irregularis increased the abundance and richness of Rhizophagus in AMF communities of onion roots but not in carrot roots. The soil phosphorus level had no effect on the richness and diversity of AMF in the roots of either crop. In summary, AMF inoculant and soil phosphorus levels influenced the composition of AMF communities colonizing the roots of onion and carrot plants, but the effects varied between plant species.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) diversity and population in UPV Nature Trail, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines

Abstract. De Asis EPT, Demetillo FMM, Paguntalan DP. 2023. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) diversity and population in UPV Nature Trail, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 6692-6703. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are soil microorganisms that form the most prevalent mutualistic associations with plant species. Studies revealed its global distribution in various terrestrial habitats, but available local literature remains few. This study investigated AMF diversity in the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Nature Trail, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. AMF spores were isolated using wet sieving, decanting, and centrifugation. A total of 2815 individual spores were documented, with 114 distinct morphospecies representing 16 genera, nine families, and four orders classified. Glomus clarum, Acaulospora sp.7, and Scutellospora pellucida tallied the highest abundance across all points. Scutellospora pellucida (FOC=83.3%) recorded the highest species richness, followed by Ambispora sp. (FOC=77.78%), then Acaulospora mellea and Glomus australe (FOC=72.22%). Overall, Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H=3.6019) and Simpson diversity index (D=0.0420) revealed a very high AMF diversity in the trail, while the Pielou evenness index (J=0.7605) suggested a semi-balanced number of individuals among each morphospecies. A more abundant, even, and diverse, albeit not statistically significant, AMF community was recorded in forested areas compared to non-forested areas of the trail. Results generally suggest that the AMF community is diverse and abundant regardless of the location, ecosystem type, and faunal association.

Moderate input of nanoscale zero-valent iron accelerated soil polychlorinated biphenyls dissipation with limited inhibition on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity

Moderate input of nanoscale zero-valent iron accelerated soil polychlorinated biphenyls dissipation with limited inhibition on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity

Heterogeneity in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities of the Brazilian Cerrado, Transitional Areas toward the Caatinga, and the Atlantic Forest.

The Cerrado is the most diverse tropical savanna worldwide and the second-largest biome in South America. The objective of this study was to understand the heterogeneity and dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in different types of natural Cerrado vegetation and areas that are transitioning to dryer savannas or tropical rainforests and to elucidate the driving factors responsible for the differences between these ecosystems. Twenty-one natural sites were investigated, including typical Cerrado forest, typical Caatinga, Atlantic Rainforest, transitions between Cerrado and Caatinga, Cerrado areas near Caatinga or rainforest, and Carrasco sites. Spores were extracted from the soils, counted, and morphologically analyzed. In total, 82 AMF species were detected. AMF species richness varied between 36 and 51, with the highest richness found in the area transitioning between Cerrado and Caatinga, followed by areas of Cerrado close to Caatinga and typical Cerrado forest. The types of Cerrado vegetation and the areas transitioning to the Caatinga shared the highest numbers of AMF species (32-38). Vegetation, along with chemical and physical soil parameters, affected the AMF communities, which may also result from seasonal rainfall patterns. The Cerrado has a great AMF diversity and is, consequently, a natural refuge for AMF. The plant and microbial communities as well as the diversity of habitats require urgent protection within the Cerrado, as it represents a key AMF hotspot.

Density and Phenotypic Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Revegetated Tailing Storage Facility in Ghana

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) aid the establishment of vegetation on stressed soils as they contribute to soil ecological functions as well as improvement in plant growth. Understanding the mycorrhizal diversity and density within an area is an important step in harnessing the immense benefits of mycorrhiza. This study assessed the diversity and density of AMF in a revegetated tailing storage facility in Ghana. A balanced hierarchical sampling scheme with 4 stages and 72 sampling points was used over four sampling periods. Seventeen AMF spore types from nine genera (Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Racocetra, Rhizophagus, Septoglomus and Scutellospora) and five families (Acaulosporaceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Diversisporaceae, Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae) were isolated and identified from the samples. The density of spores varied between 24 and 817; 21 and 303; 21 and 321; and 24 and 875 spores 100 g-1 dry tailing solids respectively for the four sampled periods. The spore densities for the control samples also varied between 85 and 307; 65 and 248; 90 and 321 and 70 and 287 spores 100 g-1 dry soil for the respective sampling periods. Recorded spore densities varied significantly within sampling locations (p = 0.000) and between sampling periods (p = 0.000). The density and diversity of the AMF found in this study were relatively high and may have contributed significantly to the revegetation of the storage facility. These findings are important pointers for the adoption of mycorrhization in vegetation establishment and ultimately rehabilitation of decommissioned tailings storage facilities in Ghana. Further studies should however be done to determine how the various vegetation types found on the TSF affect AMF diversity and density.

Biodiversity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from Cynodon dactylon

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are essential helpers in the soil environment. The symbiotic association helps them in various ways to improve stem, growth, tolerance to certain insects or prey, and sustainability under unfavorable conditions such as salinity, temperature, anaerobic conditions, and low nutrient requirements. In a study, the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of Cynodon dactylon was isolated and identified. Cynodon dactylon was preferred because it is readily available. The soil to be analyzed for the arbuscular mycorrhizal spores was obtained from the roots of Cynodon dactylon. Mycorrhizal colonization and the number of mycorrhizal spores were positively correlated with host plant growth. Glomus species were abundant, unlike the other species found in the soil. Glomus fasciculatum and Glomus macrocarpum were identified by comparison with previous research. The study also helps in developing biofertilizers for plant growth by providing them with proper mycorrhizal nutrients in the form of colonized roots.