Inga Edulis Research Articles

Litterfall and nutrient dynamics shift in tropical forest restoration sites after a decade of recovery

AbstractMulti‐year studies comparing changes in litterfall biomass and nutrient inputs in sites under different restoration practices are lacking. We evaluated litterfall dynamics and nutrient inputs at 5 yr and after a decade of recovery in four treatments (natural regeneration—no planting, plantation—entire area planted, tree islands—planting in patches, and reference forest) at multiple sites in an agricultural landscape in southern Costa Rica. We inter‐planted two native species (Terminalia amazonia and Vochysia guatemalensis) and two naturalized N‐fixing species (Inga edulis and Erythrina poeppigiana) in plantation and island treatments. Although litterfall N was higher in plantations in the first sampling period, litter production and overall inputs of C, N, Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Mn, and Fe did not differ between island, plantation, or reference forest after a decade; however, all were greater than in natural regeneration. Potassium inputs were lower in the natural regeneration, intermediate in island and plantation, and greater in reference forest. The percentage of litterfall comprised by the N‐fixing planted species declined by nearly two‐thirds in both plantations and islands between sampling periods, while the percentage of V. guatemalensis more than doubled, and the percentage from naturally regenerated species increased from 27 to 47 percent in islands. Island and plantation treatments were equally effective at restoring litterfall and nutrient inputs to levels similar to the reference system. The nutrient input changed substantially over the 7‐yr interval between measurements, reflecting shifts in vegetation composition and demonstrating how rapidly nutrient cycling dynamics can change in recovering forests.

Optimization of Acid Hydrolysis of Myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside Using Response Surface Methodology

This study aimed to optimize the acid hydrolysis of glycosylated flavonols, to apply the optimum conditions for hydrolyzing Inga edulis extract (IEE), rich in glycosylated flavonols, and evaluating its impact on the antioxidant capacity. To evaluate the influence of three independent variables on the aglycone obtained after the reaction, the response surface methodology was applied using myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside (M3R) as a pure compound. The phenolic compound profile and antioxidant capacity were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay, respectively. The maximum content of the aglycone myricetin (81.15%) occurred with 2.5 M HCl at 75 oC for 60 min. Under these conditions, the IEE produced the aglycones myricetin, quercetin and cyanidin. The TEAC values of the M3R samples and IEE before and after acid hydrolysis did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the hydrolytic process is effective to produce aglycone flavonoids from leaf extracts of I. edulis, and probably for other plant extracts rich in M3R.

Phosphorus Fertilization Increases Biomass and Nutrient Accumulation Under Improved Fallow Management in a Slash-and-Mulch System in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Improvement of fallow vegetation can have a positive impact on the productivity of slash-and-mulch systems in eastern Amazonia. Phosphorus fertilization can increase biomass and nutrient stocks in the fallow phase, thereby improving nutrient cycling and crop productivity. Here, we compared biomass and nutrient stocks under three fallow management strategies: (1) natural fallow (regrowth vegetation) – NF; (2) NF vegetation improved with leguminous trees (Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel and Inga edulis Mart.) – IF; and (3) NF vegetation improved with leguminous [...]

Recovering degraded lands in the Peruvian Amazon by cover crops and sustainable agroforestry systems

This long term research is being carried out in degraded lands of low fertility conditions in the humid tropics of the Peruvian Amazon. The objective is to recover degraded lands for sustainable agriculture that was affected by shifting agriculture and overgrazed pastures. The recovering trials in three farms are fertilized cover crops with the legume Centrosema (Centrosema macrocarpum), and the establishment of th prototype agroforestry systems are based on a) woody trees with Swietenia macrophylla, Guazuma crinita (GC), Calycophylum spruceanum (CS) and Simarouba amara (SA), b) woody-fruit trees with Cedrelinga cateniformis, GC, SA, Inga edulis and Bactris gasipaes, and a c) silvopastoral system with Centrosema and woody trees with GC, SA and CS. Initial degraded compacted soils were covered with degraded grass (Brachiaria brizantha) and weeds, and the soil were very acid (80% of Al saturation) with 4 ppm of P and low soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity. Soil was weeded and fertilized with a combined fertilizer based on rock phosphate (40 kg/ha), and then Centrosema was planted followed by the plantation of trees with localized fertilization application. In three months we had 100% cover and weeds were controlled. Average Centrosema biomass in 8 months was 8.12 T/ha, and while the different trees were growing with 55 to 89 percentage of survival due to water stress, Centrosema recovered the soil compaction up to 20 cm depth. Biomass can be used as forage for small animals and to enrich soil. Mean total nitrogen accumulation in biomass was 232 kg/ha.

Influence of luminosity on the initial growth of Carapa guianensis, Clitoria fairchildiana and Inga edulis tree seedlings

The success of forest plantations can be improved by understanding the response of plants to different environmental conditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the growth and leaf characteristics of tree seedlings subjected to different levels of luminosity. The experiment was conducted in nursery conditions, where seedlings of Carapa guianensis , Clitoria fairchildiana and Inga edulis were subjected to the following treatments: T50 = 50% shading, T75 = 75% shading, and SL = sunlight. During 90 days, height, stem diameter (SD), specific leaf area (SLA), chlorophyll content index (CCI) and F v /F m ratio were determined. C. fairchildiana showed a greater growth in height and better responses of F v /F m in the T75 treatment. I. edulis showed higher values for SLA in all treatments compared to the other species. Both C. fairchildiana and I. edulis presented increases in CCI values in function of time when compared with C. guianensis , which reduced CCI values. Under the evaluated conditions, C. fairchildiana showed a better development, while C. guianensis did not develop well.

Tolerance and resilience of forest species to frost in restoration planting in southern Brazil

Listing potential species for restoring areas has become a complex task considering the lack of information regarding the silvicultural behavior of native trees after planting and their responses to environmental conditions. Frost is an important meteorological phenomenon that regulates the distribution of plant species, especially in subtropical regions. Thus, we evaluated the effect of frost and the resilience potential of native forest species in restoration planting of a riparian forest in southern Brazil. The experimental design used was randomized blocks in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme (6 species and 2 containers). During the winter in 2014 (270 days after planting), the damage from the impact of frost was assessed through a rating scale ranging from 0 (100% of the leaf area and damaged stem) to 10 (no visual damage). In addition, to assess species resilience, the height and stem diameter were measured, prior to the winter of 2014 and at 270 and 360 days. Eugenia involucrata and Schinus terebinthifolius were considered frost tolerant species. Parapiptadenia rigida was classified as moderately frost tolerant, while Casearia sylvestris, Cupania vernalis, and Inga vera were very sensitive to frost. Casearia sylvestris, E. involucrata, P. rigida, and S. terebinthifolius showed potential for recommencement of growth. On the other hand, C. vernalis and I. vera were considered too sensitive to frost, with high mortality rates and/or no resilience potential.

Carbon and nutrient stocks of three Fabaceae trees used for forest restoration and subjected to fertilization in Amazonia.

Amazonia is crucial to global carbon cycle. Deforestation continues to be one of the main causes of the release of C into the atmosphere, but forest restoration plantations can reverse this scenario. However, there is still diffuse information about the C and nutrient stocks in the vegetation biomass. We investigated the carbon and nutrient stocks of Fabaceae trees (Inga edulis, Schizolobium amazonicum and Dipteryx odorata) subjected to fertilization treatments (T1 - no fertilization; T2 - chemical; T3 - organic; and T4 - organic and chemical fertilization) in a degraded area of the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam, AM - Brazil. As an early successional species, I. edulis stocked more C and nutrients than the other two species independent of the fertilization treatment, and S. amazonicum stocked more C than D. odorata under T1 and T4. The mixed species plantation had the potential to stock 4.1 Mg C ha-1 year-1, while I. edulis alone could stock 9.4 Mg C ha-1 year-1. Mixing species that rapidly assimilate C and are of significant ecological and commercial value (e.g., Fabaceae trees) represents a good way to restore degraded areas. Our results suggest that the tested species be used for forest restoration in Amazonia.

Germinación, diámetro de semilla y tratamientos pregerminativos en especies con diferentes finalidades de uso

The evaluation of vegetal species germination consents to know its characteristics and permits to understand the factors that influence this process. The aim of this research was to know the germination’s characteristics of some species, such as Eugenia stipitata McVaugh, Inga edulis Mart, Inga spectabilis (Vahl) Wild, Piptocoma discolor (Kunth) Pruski, Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl, and Verbena officinalis L., and also their reaction to pregerminative treatments depending on the seed’s diameter. This study was carried out in Pastaza, Province of Pastaza, Ecuador, between February and June, 2014. Different diameters of seeds and pregerminative treatments were used in species, which did not present germination percentages higher than 40%. In the first practice I. edulis and I. spectabilis exceeded this value without treatment. Other species had lower values. Seeds were classified considering two diameters and two doses of gibberellin acid, this was applied to, and evaluated in the E. stipitata. In addition, scarification with sulfuric acid was done. After 45 days of its application, 100 ppm of gibberellic acid with larger seed diameter reported higher percentages of germination in S. cayenennsis, and in E. stipitata, which also interacted with the scarification. V. officinalis and P. discolor, did not present any response to the applications made. I. edulis and I. spectabilis presented high germination percentages without pregerminative treatments, E. stipitata and S. cayenennsis showed response to seed diameter and the applied treatments, while P discolor and V. officinalis did not show any response.

Inga vera trypsin inhibitor interferes in the proteolytic activity and nutritional physiology of Ephestia kuehniella larvae

AbstractPlant peptidase inhibitors provide plants with a defense strategy to inhibit insect digestive enzymes and have been studied as an alternative strategy for pest control as they interfere in normal insect physiology. We evaluated the effects of ingestion of the trypsin inhibitor from Inga vera Willd. (Fabaceae) seeds on the nutritional and digestive physiology of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. Inga vera trypsin inhibitor (IVTI) reduced the efficiency of the conversion of ingested and digested food in these larvae and increased the metabolic cost, causing an anti‐nutritional effect. In both short‐ and long‐term bioassays, the ingestion of IVTI inactivated most of the insect's trypsin activity, but increased chymotrypsin activity as a compensatory response by the insect; however, protein digestion continued to be partially blocked. Consequently, chymotrypsin‐like enzymes, which were over‐produced in the gut, were excreted more into the frass of IVTI‐fed larvae. As such, the resistance of IVTI to hydrolysis by insect midgut proteases resulted in detrimental effects to larvae. These data provide support for the use of IVTI as a biotechnological tool for pest control.

Soil physico-hydraulic properties under organic conilon coffee intercropped with tree and fruit species

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the cultivation effects of organic conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) intercropped with tree and fruit species on soil physico-hydraulic properties. Conilon coffee managements in the organic system were: T1, full-sun monoculture; T2, T3, T4, and T5, intercropping with peach palm (Bactris gasipae), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), banana (Musa sp.), and inga (Inga edulis), respectively; and T6, an area of secondary native forest used as a control. The evaluated soil physico-hydraulic properties were: bulk density, porosity, plant-available water capacity, soil-penetration resistance, soil-water content, soil temperature, and least limiting water range. Conilon coffee intercropped with peach palm and gliricidia resulted in lower soil bulk density and penetration resistance, and in higher total porosity, microporosity, and soil-water content. Organic coffee shaded with peach palm and gliricidia improve the soil physico-hydraulic quality, in comparison with the soil under monoculture in full sun and with the soil of secondary native forest.

A new model of tropical tree diameter growth rate and its application to identify fast-growing native tree species

The Atlantic forest biome in Brazil possesses many suitable tree species for cultivation and restoration purposes. This biome was the most rapidly and extensively exploited forest type in Brazil and it displays areas ill-suited for eucalyptus cultivation. Since tropical tree species usually do not form growth rings and long-term growth data are still not available in Brazil, this study addressed a new approach to diameter growth rate estimation. The approach was developed in order to alleviate the shortage of species-specific growth information for the Atlantic forest biome. The two reasons for developing the approach were: (1) the possibility of increased ecological and economic diversification of plantation forests beyond eucalyptus, and (2) the potential to identify suitable tree species for restoration programs in the biome. Either reason requires growth models with sound biological properties. The data used in this study came from 20 native forest fragments and included six tropical tree species. Forest inventory to assess forest growth was first conducted in 2003, while the re-measurement was conducted in 2008. A non-linear exponential model, containing an asymptote parameter as a function of stand density, was fit to estimate tree species diameter growth rate for each of the six tree species in the study. Additionally, based on the exponential model, a formulation of the time required for each tree species to reach a given diameter was developed. The fitted models exhibited high variability among the six tree species, but they performed well with respect to tree growth behavior. Since the model accounted for stand density, it was possible to predict how different stand densities would affect each tree species growth over time. Finally, the tree species Triplaris gardneriana Weddell, Inga vera Willd. and Xylopia brasiliensis Spreng are recommended as potentially fast-growing tree species in the Atlantic forest biome. These tree species exhibited good growth rates regardless the stand density simulated (1600/ha, 2000/ha, and 2400/ha) to reach a dbh of 10cm (Xylopia brasiliensis Spreng - 16years, 17years, and 18years; Triplaris gardneriana Weddell - 15years, 17years, and 21years; Inga vera Willd. - 25years, 25.5years, and 26years) and showed promising potential for both restoration and production programs. The developed approach reveals a unique diameter growth rate prediction method.

Inga laurina trypsin inhibitor (ILTI) obstructs Spodoptera frugiperda trypsins expressed during adaptive mechanisms against plant protease inhibitors

Plant protease inhibitors (PIs) are elements of a common plant defense mechanism induced in response to herbivores. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a highly polyphagous lepidopteran pest, responds to various PIs in its diet by expressing genes encoding trypsins. This raises the question of whether the PI-induced trypsins are also inhibited by other PIs, which we posed as the hypothesis that Inga laurina trypsin inhibitor (ILTI) inhibits PI-induced trypsins in S. frugiperda. In the process of testing our hypothesis, we compared its properties with those of selected PIs, soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (SKTI), Inga vera trypsin inhibitor (IVTI), Adenanthera pavonina trypsin inhibitor (ApTI), and Entada acaciifolia trypsin inhibitor (EATI). We report that ILTI is more effective in inhibiting the induced S. frugiperda trypsins than SKTI and the other PIs, which supports our hypothesis. ILTI may be more appropriate than SKTI for studies regarding adaptive mechanisms to dietary PIs.

Occurrence of Allorhogas sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) associated with galls on seeds of Inga vera (Fabaceae) in Brazil.

Occurrence of Allorhogas sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) associated with galls on seeds of Inga vera (Fabaceae) in Brazil.

SCREENING OF WILD FRUIT TREES WITH GASTROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL MODELS.

Given the increase of people with gastrointestinal disorders, the search for alternative treatments with fewer side effects is vital, as well as the demand for food or plants that can help protect the stomach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gastroprotective action of the extracts of wild fruit trees of Myrcianthes pungens (guabiju); Inga vera Willd. (ingá-banana) and Marlierea tomentosa Cambess. (guarapuruna) in in vivo pharmacological models. The different parts of the fruits were separately subjected to a process of extraction by methanol. Two experimental pharmacological models were conducted in mice; the gastric ulcer model induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (indomethacin), and the gastric ulcer model induced by ethanol/HCl, which allowed us to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of the extracts at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Subsequently, the total lesion area (mm2) and relative lesion area (%) were determined. The results showed significant gastroprotective activity against the aggressive agents used - ethanol and indomethacin - for all the extracts tested. It is assumed that the fruits have bioactive compounds such as antioxidant substances that act on the prostaglandin levels, protecting them from the damage caused by ethanol and indomethacin. These results prompt further studies to isolate and identify the active properties.

Diversity of endophytic bacteria from Citrus and Inga trees in the coffee agro-ecosystem and fluctuations by location, shade management and season

Coffee, Coffea arabica L., is planted in diverse agro-ecological environments in the mountains of Puerto Rico (PR). The pathogen, Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., is a xylem-limited phytopathogenic bacterium transmitted by insects that causes coffee leaf scorch, citrus-variegated chlorosis and vascular diseases of many other plant species. The objective of this study was to characterize the fastidious endophytes occupying a similar niche as X. fastidiosa in the vascular system of Citrus sinensis and Inga vera trees in low diversity and high diversity shade environments where coffee is grown In PR. Sampling was conducted over two years in four localities: Adjuntas, Jayuya, Las Marías and Yauco during the dry and rainy seasons. Citrus sinensis and Inga vera were generally the only shade treesin coffee plantations described as "low diversity"; in "high diversity" plantations these same species were present along with Pithocellobium carbonarium, Gliricidia sepium and Andira inermis. Endophyte population (EP) and endophyte diversity (ED) were contrasted using factorial arrangements of shade, locality, season and year. Endophytes were clustered using multivariate analysis. Neither shade nor season had an effect on EP in Citrus. In Inga vera, EP was about three times higher in the second year compared to the first year regardless of season, location or shade. In both Citrus and Inga, ED was low. The highest ED was detected in Jayuya and the lowest in Las Marías. Ward's algorithm combined Citrus and Inga fastidious strains into four and five clusters for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Endophyte diversity of Citrus and Inga was determined by the plant species, not by location or shade. However, ED was higher in shaded coffee with low diversity of tree species. Thus, effects of shade (low versus high diversity) altered the community structure of endophytes prevalent in the vascular tissue and may impact host plant resistance to pathogens such as X. fastidiosa.

Symbiotic effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium ingae in promoting growth of Inga edulis Mart. seedlings

ABSTRACT Inga edulis Mart. is a leguminous tree adapted to acidic and low-fertility soils that establishes symbioses with nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria. The identification of effective bacteria in biological N fixation may bolster the use of I. edulis in degraded or modified areas and agroforestry systems. Therefore, the aims of this study were evaluation of the symbiotic effectiveness of eight strains of the Bradyrhizobium genus native to Roraima in Inga edulis plants, and in vitro evaluation of the ability of the [...]

MIMOSOIDEAE (FABACEAE) DA REGIÃO DO MANSO, ANTÔNIO DIAS, MINAS GERAIS: DISTRIBUIÇÃO GEOGRÁFICA E SIMILARIDADE FLORÍSTICA NA FLORESTA ATLÂNTICA

A Região do Manso, localizada a 785 m de altitude no município de Antônio Dias, leste de Minas Gerais (19°41’15’’S, 42°48’45’’W), está no domínio Atlântico na formação da floresta estacional semidecídua montana. No inventário das Mimosoideae ocorrentes na região, foram encontrados nove táxons que neste trabalho são analisados quanto aos limites de distribuição geográfica e somente os arbóreos são avaliados como indicadores das relações florísticas entre a região do Manso e outras áreas de floresta atlântica do Sudeste brasileiro. São eles: Senegalia martiusiana (Steud.) Seigler & Ebingler, Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul, Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg, Inga vera subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D. Penn., Mimosa debilis Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. var. debilis, Mimosa pellita Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. var. pellita, Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) J.F. Macbr., Plathymenia reticulata Benth. e Stryphnodendron polyphyllum Mart.Cinco padrões de distribuição geográfica foram estabelecidos: 1. Anfiatlântico (1sp.); 2. Neotropical (1sp.); 3. América do Sul Ocidental-Centro-Oriental (4spp.); 4. Brasil Centro-Oriental (2spp.); 5. Brasil Atlântico Nordeste-Sudeste (1sp.). Os táxons quanto à preferência de habitat, foram tratados como elementos florísticos generalistas (100%) e especialistas (0%) do domínio Atlântico. Os resultados mostram maior similaridade entre o Manso e trechos de floresta situados nas altas elevações. Existem similaridades florísticas entre as florestas ombrófila densa e estacionais semidecíduas do sudeste, apoiando a proposição de origem comum dessas fitofisionomias.

EFFECT OF CHARCOAL -ENRICHED SUBSTRATE ON SEEDLINGS OF RHIZOBIUM-INOCULATED LEGUME TREES

ABSTRACT Native legume trees are planted in agroforestry systems for their hardiness and symbiosis with soil bacteria of the genus rhizobium, efficient in N2 fixation. The enrichment of the substrate composition with fine charcoal for seedling production of these trees is interesting for increasing soil porosity, water retention and the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms. Experiments were carried out to analyze the effect of substrate enrichment with charcoal on the quality of Clitoria fairchildiana, Enterolobium schomburgkii and Inga edulis seedlings. The treatments consisted of a 3:2:0.5 (v:v) mixture of clay soil, sand and bovine manure and a 3:2 (v:v) mixture of clay soil and sand combined with charcoal rates of 0, 10, 19 and 29%. After mixing the components, substrate samples were collected and chemically analyzed. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 10 replications. The seedlings were inoculated with homologues rhizobia and growth controlled monthly. The plants were collected to determine the number of nodules and dry biomass of roots, shoots and nodules. Seedling growth was similar on substrates containing charcoal or manure, except for E. schomburkii, which increased by more than 100% on the charcoal-containing substrates. The number and dry biomass of nodules in the charcoal-containing substrates was up to 100% and 300% higher than in the manure-containing treatment, respectively. The results indicated that the substitution of manure by charcoal favors the seedling quality of the studied species.

ACÚMULO DE BIOMASSA E NUTRIENTES DE DUAS LEGUMINOSAS ARBÓREAS INTRODUZIDAS EM SISTEMA DE POUSIO NA AMAZÔNIA

A vegetação de pousio é um dos principais componentes dos sistemas agroflorestais sequenciais de derrubada e queima, praticados tradicionalmente pela agricultura familiar na Amazônia. A remoção progressiva de nutrientes do solo por essa prática implica em reduções contínuas nos estoques de carbono e nutrientes, causando declínio da produtividade do solo, perda da capacidade regeneração e diminuição da diversidade de espécies da vegetação. O melhoramento de pousio com espécies leguminosas fixadoras do nitrogênio atmosférico pode contribuir para uma maior produção de biomassa e acúmulo de nutrientes em comparação com a vegetação espontânea, atendendo à demanda nutricional das culturas subsequentes, podendo ser considerada como uma tecnologia de produção sustentável. Esse trabalho avaliou o efeito da adubação fosfatada de baixa solubilidade no acúmulo de biomassa e nutrientes da parte aérea de leguminosas arbóreas utilizadas em enriquecimento de vegetação de pousio. O experimento foi conduzido por 23 meses, em um sistema agroflorestal de “corte e trituração” em Marapanim, Pará. Foram utilizadas as espécies tachi-branco - Sclerolobium paniculatum Vogel e ingá - Inga edulis Mart e foram estimados biomassa, teor e estoque de nutrientes dos compartimentos folha, galho e tronco. Houve acúmulo de biomassa, estoques de P, Ca e Mg nas folhas, estoque de P nos galhos e o teor de cálcio nas folhas das leguminosas é limitado por fósforo, segundo os resultados encontrados. A espécie Inga edulis apresentou maiores teores de potássio, cálcio e magnésio nos compartimentos folha, galho e tronco, enquanto que a espécie Sclerolobium paniculatum apresentou maiores acúmulos de biomassa e estoques de nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, cálcio e magnésio nos compartimentos folha, galho e tronco.

Reduced aboveground tree growth associated with higher arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in tropical forest restoration.

Establishing diverse mycorrhizal fungal communities is considered important for forest recovery, yet mycorrhizae may have complex effects on tree growth depending on the composition of fungal species present. In an effort to understand the role of mycorrhizal fungi community in forest restoration in southern Costa Rica, we sampled the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community across eight sites that were planted with the same species (Inga edulis, Erythrina poeppigiana, Terminalia amazonia, and Vochysia guatemalensis) but varied twofold to fourfold in overall tree growth rates. The AMF community was measured in multiple ways: as percent colonization of host tree roots, by DNA isolation of the fungal species associated with the roots, and through spore density, volume, and identity in both the wet and dry seasons. Consistent with prior tropical restoration research, the majority of fungal species belonged to the genus Glomus and genus Acaulospora, accounting for more than half of the species and relative abundance found on trees roots and over 95% of spore density across all sites. Greater AMF diversity correlated with lower soil organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen concentrations and longer durations of prior pasture use across sites. Contrary to previous literature findings, AMF species diversity and spore densities were inversely related to tree growth, which may have arisen from trees facultatively increasing their associations with AMF in lower soil fertility sites. Changes to AMF community composition also may have led to variation in disturbance susceptibility, host tree nutrient acquisition, and tree growth. These results highlight the potential importance of fungal–tree–soil interactions in forest recovery and suggest that fungal community dynamics could have important implications for tree growth in disturbed soils.