丛枝菌根真菌促进入侵植物紫茎泽兰的生长和对本地植物竞争效应

外来植物与入侵地土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的互作和反馈已被认为是许多入侵植物的重要入侵机制之一。为进一步探究入侵植物紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)竞争替代本地植物过程中AMF的作用,本研究首先测定了林下和林地边缘两类生境中紫茎泽兰和本地植物的AMF侵染率和AMF含量,结果表明,2种生境中紫茎泽兰的菌根侵染率和AMF含量均显著高于本地植物,且菌根侵染率与AMF含量呈显著正相关。温室盆栽试验结果进一步表明,接种AMF显著促进了紫茎泽兰的生长,且对硝态氮和有效磷的吸收能力优于本地植物香茶菜(Rabdosia amethystoides),同时降低了竞争中本地植物香茶菜的菌根依赖性,提高了紫茎泽兰对香茶菜的竞争优势度。本研究进一步证实AMF有利于促进紫茎泽兰的竞争性扩张。     

丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤真菌对入侵植物紫茎泽兰的正反馈：证据来自野外实验

包括紫茎泽兰在内的许多外来植物都能够与新入侵生境的丛枝菌根真菌（ AMF）形成互利共生,因此菌根真菌如何调节外来植物种的入侵是当前亟待研究的问题。测定了紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段（紫茎泽兰呈零星丛状分布于本地植物群落中[部分入侵生境]及紫茎泽兰单优群落形成期[入侵生境]）的土壤化学性状,而后通过野外试验,采用杀真菌剂处理,研究了包括AMF在内的土壤真菌对紫茎泽兰入侵的反馈作用。紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤化学性状。施用杀真菌剂降低了紫茎泽兰叶面积、叶片碳、氮、磷、和δ13 C含量。综合分析发现,在紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落中,土壤真菌能够增加紫茎泽兰叶片碳和δ13 C含量,但是不能提高紫茎泽兰的光合作用,表明碳和δ13 C含量的提高,不是光合作用的结果,而是通过其他机制实现的。因此可以得出,在部分入侵生境中,碳从土壤或临近植物经由菌丝网向紫茎泽兰转移。紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段土壤养分的变化利于紫茎泽兰种群建立,同时利于紫茎泽兰借助真菌（尤其是AMF）从土壤或临近植物转移碳,促进种群扩散,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵的机制之一。     

丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤真菌对入侵植物紫茎泽兰的正反馈:证据来自野外实验(英文)

【背景】包括紫茎泽兰在内的许多外来植物都能够与新入侵生境的丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)形成互利共生,因此菌根真菌如何调节外来植物种的入侵是当前亟待研究的问题。【方法】测定了紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段(紫茎泽兰呈零星丛状分布于本地植物群落中[部分入侵生境]及紫茎泽兰单优群落形成期[入侵生境])的土壤化学性状,而后通过野外试验,采用杀真菌剂处理,研究了包括AMF在内的土壤真菌对紫茎泽兰入侵的反馈作用。【结果】紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤化学性状。施用杀真菌剂降低了紫茎泽兰叶面积、叶片碳、氮、磷、和δ13C含量。【结论与意义】综合分析发现,在紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落中,土壤真菌能够增加紫茎泽兰叶片碳和δ13C含量,但是不能提高紫茎泽兰的光合作用,表明碳和δ13C含量的提高,不是光合作用的结果,而是通过其他机制实现的。因此可以得出,在部分入侵生境中,碳从土壤或临近植物经由菌丝网向紫茎泽兰转移。紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段土壤养分的变化利于紫茎泽兰种群建立,同时利于紫茎泽兰借助真菌(尤其是AMF)从土壤或临近植物转移碳,促进种群扩散,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵的机制之一。     

紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤细菌的群落组成和多样性的影响

外来生物入侵可能对生物群落结构和生态系统功能产生多种影响, 但入侵植物与土壤微生物群落组成和多样性的关系尚不清楚。为了揭示外来植物紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum)入侵对土壤化学性质和细菌群落组成及多样性的影响, 本研究利用第二代高通量测序技术, 比较了紫茎泽兰不同入侵程度的生境(本地植物群落、紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落、紫茎泽兰单优群落)土壤中细菌群落的差异。土壤化学性质分析表明, 土壤pH值、有机质、全N和全K随着紫茎泽兰的入侵而逐渐降低, 而土壤全P则在入侵程度最高的生境土壤中最高。通过测序共获得7,755个细菌OUT (operational taxonomic unit)。结果表明, 紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤的细菌多样性影响较小, ACE和Chao指数在3种不同生境间的差异不显著。细菌在紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落中的Shannon指数最低, 即细菌的多样性在中等入侵程度的生境最低。此外, 紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤细菌组成和结构, 酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的相对丰度, 从本地植物群落、混合群落到紫茎泽兰单优群落, 呈现出先增加后减少的趋势。可见, 紫茎泽兰入侵一定程度上改变了土壤微生物的多样性和群落结构, 并改变了土壤的化学性质。     

紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)入侵对土壤微生物群落和理化性质的影响

外来入侵植物与入侵地土壤微生物群落的互作关系是影响外来植物入侵力和生态系统可入侵性的一个重要领域。因此,研究外来植物入侵对入侵地土壤微生物群落及其理化性质的影响不仅可以全面地评估入侵植物对生态系统的影响,而且对于探索外来植物入侵的土壤微生物学机制尤为重要。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)和传统培养相结合的方法研究了外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰对入侵地土壤微生物群落结构的影响;同时研究了紫茎泽兰入侵对11种土壤理化因子的影响。结果表明紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤微生物群落结构,提高了土壤自生固氮菌、氨氧化细菌和真菌的数量;同时,显著地提高了土壤的有效磷、速效钾、硝态氮、氨态氮和土壤有机碳含量,降低了土壤总钾含量和pH值。土壤微生物不同生理类群的变化与土壤中植物可直接吸收利用养分的变化显著相关。紫茎泽兰在入侵地成功定殖后,可能通过改变土壤微生物群落结构,特别是增加了与土壤养分循环相关的微生物功能类群数量,进而提高了土壤可利用的养分水平,创造对自身生长有利的土壤环境。紫茎泽兰改变土壤微生物群落是其入侵的一部分,这种改变进而加速了土壤养分循环,可能增强了紫茎泽兰的养分吸收,进而促进其生长、竞争和扩张。     

紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤酶活性和理化因子的影响

紫茎泽兰是我国危害最严重的外来入侵植物之一,为探明其入侵对土壤肥力的影响,比较研究了紫茎泽兰、云南菅、狗尾草群落和撂荒地下0~30 cm的4层土壤中6种酶活性和12种理化因子。结果表明群落类型和土壤深度对测定的各参数均有显著影响。随土壤深度的增加,多酚氧化酶、碱性磷酸酶、脲酶活性,以及有机质、全氮、全磷、全钙、水解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量和pH值均降低。总的看来,紫茎泽兰群落下碱性磷酸酶和脲酶活性,有机质、全氮、全磷、全钙、水解氮和有效磷含量,以及pH值均较高,全钾含量较低,但速效钾含量并不低,表明紫茎泽兰入侵多年后土壤肥力水平提高,形成了对其生长有利的土壤环境。     

AMF colonization and community of a temperate invader and co-occurring natives grown under different CO2 concentrations for 3 years

连续3年不同CO₂浓度下一种温带外来入侵植物和两种共存本地植物丛枝菌根真菌群落及侵染率 大气CO₂浓度升高等全球变化过程不仅能促进外来植物入侵,也能改变土壤丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)的群落结构,但我们并不清楚大气CO₂浓度升高促进外来植物入侵是否与其对外来入侵植物和 本地植物AMF共生的影响有关。为回答这一问题,我们在环境和倍增CO₂浓度下连续3年栽培一年生外来入侵植物瘤突苍耳(Xanthium strumarium)与两种共存的一年生本地近缘植物,比较了AMF侵染率、土 壤养分和土壤AMF群落组成的差异。研究结果表明,大气CO₂浓度升高只在少数情况下提高根系AMF侵染率,并且瘤突苍耳AMF侵染率的提高并不比本地种多。在环境CO₂浓度下,栽培第一年瘤突苍耳的AMF侵染侵染率显著高于两种本地植物;而栽培第二年和第三年与两种本地植物的差异不显著,因为两种本地植物的AMF侵染率随种植时间的增加而增加,而瘤突苍耳AMF侵染率受种植时间的影响较小。物种、CO₂浓度和种植时间对AMF侵染率的影响与它们对土壤养分和AMF群落的影响有关,土壤养分对AMF侵染率的影响可能比AMF群落组成的影响更大,因为后者也受土壤养分的影响。上述结果表明,与本地植物相比,入侵植物能更快地与AMF形成共生关系,有利于其适应和入侵新生境;在探究全球变化如大气CO₂浓度升高等对外来植物入侵的影响时,需要考虑AMF的影响和时间效应。     

土壤微生物增强了外来植物紫茎泽兰对本地植物种的竞争力（英文）

【背景】土壤微生物群落对植物种群建立、生长及其营养都起着至关重要的作用,植物入侵进程也可能与植物—土壤微生物互作相关。【方法】在温室条件下,研究了从紫茎泽兰入侵的土壤(IS)和本地植物生长的土壤(NS)中获得的微生物群落对外来杂草紫茎泽兰与本地植物生长及其互作的影响。【结果】接种来自IS接种剂的紫茎泽兰,特别是与黄花苜蓿或狗尾草共同种植时,较接种NS接种剂具有更高的丛枝菌根侵染率。来自IS的接种剂促进了与本地植物狗尾草共同栽培的紫茎泽兰的生长,但这一本地植物种的生长却未受影响。接种IS接种剂的紫茎泽兰抑制了与其临近种植的2种本地植物的生长,而接种NS接种剂时,未受此影响。接种IS接种剂时,所有种植组合中的紫茎泽兰对接种剂均呈正响应;而接种NS接种剂时,单独种植或与黄花苜蓿共同种植的紫茎泽兰对接种剂呈负响应。【结论与意义】存在于紫茎泽兰根周包括丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤微生物,增强了这一入侵杂草与本地植物种的竞争力,这可能是外来植物入侵的一个重要机理。     

安徽茶区茶树丛枝菌根真菌多样性

调查了安徽茶区茶树丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)资源分布情况,为菌根生物技术在茶产业中的应用提供了具有应用价值的菌种资源.采用醋酸-墨水染色法观察茶树丛枝菌根(AM)的侵染率、侵染级数、侵染强度和菌根类型;采用湿筛法获得AMF孢子,进行形态学鉴定.结果表明: 在安徽茶区,AMF能够侵入茶树根系形成典型的共生体,侵染率在36%～95%,侵染级数均在3级以上,侵染强度大;从安徽茶树根际土中共鉴定出8属36种AMF,其中缩管柄囊霉是优势种,网状球囊霉、刺无梗囊霉、孔窝无梗囊霉、詹氏无梗囊霉、双网无梗囊霉和凹坑无梗囊霉是常见种,褐色管柄囊霉、疣突管柄囊霉、毛氏无梗囊霉、近明管柄囊霉、瑞氏无梗囊霉、空洞无梗囊霉、晕环球囊霉、细齿无梗囊霉、地管柄囊霉、幼套球囊霉、蜜色无梗囊霉、稀有内养囊霉是稀有种,其余17种为少见种;不同采样地茶树根际AMF群落相似性系数(0.14～0.55)较低,多属于低和中等水平;相关性分析表明,孢子密度与侵染率呈显著正相关,种的丰度与侵染率和总球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白呈显著正相关.安徽茶区茶树根系存在典型的AM结构,其根际AMF多样性丰富,为开发茶树专用AMF肥料提供了丰富的菌种资源.     

三七丛枝菌根（AM）的研究

研究发现,丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)能侵染三七根系并形成典型的丛枝菌根(AM),侵染率在12%～30%,但侵染强度较弱。从三七根际采集的10个土样中共分离出15种AMF,Glomus属11种,Acaulospora属4种,分别是瘤状无梗囊霉、刺无梗囊霉、孔窝无梗囊霉、细齿无梗囊霉、地球囊霉、明球囊霉、缩球囊霉、单孢球囊霉、近明球囊霉、地表球囊霉、小果球囊霉、摩西球囊霉、何氏球囊霉、晕环球囊霉和网状球囊霉。其中,地球囊霉是三七的优势种。因此,AMF是三七丰产栽培中的一种潜在应用价值的生物资源。     

An invasive aster (Ageratina adenophora) invades and dominates forest understories in China: altered soil microbial communities facilitate the invader and inhibit natives

Exotic plant invasion may alter underground microbial communities, and invasion-induced changes of soil biota may also affect the interaction between invasive plants and resident native species. Increasing evidence suggests that feedback of soil biota to invasive and native plants leads to successful exotic plant invasion. To examine this possible underlying invasion mechanism, soil microbial communities were studied where Ageratina adenophora was invading a native forest community. The plant–soil biota feedback experiments were designed to assess the effect of invasion-induced changes of soil biota on plant growth, and interactions between A. adenophora and three native plant species. Soil analysis showed that nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), and available P and K content were significantly higher in a heavily invaded site than in a newly invaded site. The structure of the soil microbial community was clearly different in all four sites. Ageratina adenophora invasion strongly increased the abundance of soil VAM (vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and the fungi/bacteria ratio. A greenhouse experiment indicated that the soil biota in the heavily invaded site had a greater inhibitory effect on native plant species than on A. adenophora and that soil biota in the native plant site inhibited the growth of native plant species, but not of A. adenophora. Soil biota in all four sites increased A. adenophora relative dominance compared with each of the three native plant species and soil biota in the heavily invaded site had greater beneficial effects on A. adenophora relative dominance index (20% higher on average) than soil biota in the non-invaded site. Our results suggest that A. adenophora is more positively affected by the soil community associated with native communities than are resident natives, and once the invader becomes established it further alters the soil community in a way that favors itself and inhibits natives, helping to promote the invasion. Soil biota alteration after A. adenophora establishment may be an important part of its invasion process to facilitate itself and inhibit native plants.     

Grassland invaders and their mycorrhizal symbionts: a study across climate and invasion gradients

Controlled experiments show that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase competitiveness of exotic plants, potentially increasing invasion success. We surveyed AMF abundance and community composition in Centaurea stoebe and Potentilla recta invasions in the western USA to assess whether patterns were consistent with mycorrhizal-mediated invasions. We asked whether (1) AMF abundance and community composition differ between native and exotic forbs, (2) associations between native plants and AMF shift with invading exotic plants, and (3) AMF abundance and/or community composition differ in areas where exotic plants are highly invasive and in areas where they are not. We collected soil and roots from invaded and native forb communities along invasion gradients and in regions with different invasion densities. We used AMF root colonization as a measure of AMF abundance and characterized AMF communities in roots using 454-sequencing of the LSU-rDNA region. All plants were highly colonized (>60%), but exotic forbs tended to be more colonized than natives (P < 0.001). We identified 30 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) across sites, and community composition was best predicted by abiotic factors (soil texture, pH). Two OTUs in the genera Glomus and Rhizophagus dominated in most communities, and their dominance increased with invasion density (r = 0.57, P = 0.010), while overall OTU richness decreased with invasion density (r = −0.61, P = 0.006). Samples along P. recta invasion gradients revealed small and reciprocal shifts in AMF communities with >45% fungal OTUs shared between neighboring native and P. recta plants. Overall, we observed significant, but modest, differences in AMF colonization and communities between co-occurring exotic and native forbs and among exotic forbs across regions that differ in invasion pressure. While experimental manipulations are required to assess functional consequences, the observed patterns are not consistent with those expected from strong mycorrhizal-mediated invasions.     

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）对外来植物入侵反馈机制的研究进展

丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）在植物群落竞争演替、物种多样性的形成及群落空间分布格局、植物群落对全球变化的响应中均起着重要的调节作用;同样也能影响外来植物与本地植物的互作,影响外来植物入侵过程中植物群落演替进程,甚至决定入侵的成败。因此,AMF与外来植物共生及其对外来植物入侵的反馈已成为国际上外来植物入侵机制研究的一个热点。本文基于外来植物的入侵过程,从AMF对外来植物生长、外来植物与本地植物竞争关系的影响,以及外来植物入侵对AMF的影响及AMF对入侵的反馈3个方面综述了AMF对外来植物入侵的反馈机制。外来植物可以通过多种途径改变土著AMF的群落结构和功能,而土著AMF也能直接或间接地改变甚至逆转外来植物与入侵地植物的互作关系。未来的研究不仅需要考虑AMF与外来植物共生的菌根特性和对竞争关系的影响,还需要通过大尺度条件下的野外试验及室内补充试验深入探究影响AMF在外来植物与本地植物竞争演替中的作用的生物和非生物因子,以全面解释AMF影响外来植物入侵的反馈机制。     

Independent effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms on plant diversity and newcomer plant establishment

Questions: How do arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworms affect the structure and diversity of a ruderal plant community? Is the establishment success of newcomer plants enhanced by these soil organisms and their interactions? Methods: We grew a native ruderal plant community composed of different functional groups (grasses, legumes and forbs) in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and endogeic earthworms in mesocosms. We introduced seeds of five, mainly exotic, plant species from the same functional groups after a disturbance simulating mowing. The effects of the soil organisms on the native ruderal plant community and seedling establishment of the newcomer plants were assessed. Results: After disturbance, the total above‐ground regrowth of the native plant community was not affected by the soil organisms. However, AMF increased plant diversity and shoot biomass of forbs, but decreased shoot biomass of grasses of the native plant community. Earthworms led to a reduction in total root biomass. Establishment of the introduced newcomer plants increased in the presence of AMF and earthworms. Especially, seedling establishment of the introduced non‐native legume Lupinus polyphyllus and the native forb Plantago lanceolata was promoted in the presence of AMF and earthworms, respectively. The endogeic earthworms gained more weight in the presence of AMF and led to increased extraradical AMF hyphal length in soil. However, earthworms did not seem to modify the effect of AMF on the plant community. Conclusion: The present study shows the importance of mutualistic soil organisms in mediating the establishment success of newcomer plants in a native plant community. Mutualistic soil organisms lead to changes in the structure and diversity of the native plant community and might promote newcomer plants, including exotic species.     

Positive Feedback between Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plants Influences Plant Invasion Success and Resistance to Invasion

Negative or positive feedback between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and host plants can contribute to plant species interactions, but how this feedback affects plant invasion or resistance to invasion is not well known. Here we tested how alterations in AMF community induced by an invasive plant species generate feedback to the invasive plant itself and affect subsequent interactions between the invasive species and its native neighbors. We first examined the effects of the invasive forb Solidago canadensis L. on AMF communities comprising five different AMF species. We then examined the effects of the altered AMF community on mutualisms formed with the native legume forb species Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl. and on the interaction between the invasive and native plants. The host preferences of the five AMF were also assessed to test whether the AMF form preferred mutualistic relations with the invasive and/or the native species. We found that S. canadensis altered AMF spore composition by increasing one AMF species (Glomus geosporum) while reducing Glomus mosseae, which is the dominant species in the field. The host preference test showed that S. canadensis had promoted the abundance of AMF species (G. geosporum) that most promoted its own growth. As a consequence, the altered AMF community enhanced the competitiveness of invasive S. canadensis at the expense of K. striata. Our results demonstrate that the invasive S. canadensis alters soil AMF community composition because of fungal-host preference. This change in the composition of the AMF community generates positive feedback to the invasive S. canadensis itself and decreases AM associations with native K. striata, thereby making the native K. striata less dominant.     

Host identity and functional traits determine the community composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in facultative epiphytic plant species

The epiphytic vascular mycobiota is scarce and facultative in semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems. However, unlike in soil conditions, little is known about the factors driving mycorrhizal communities in epiphytic environments. Here, we investigated the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) harboured by 31 plant species occurring on the trunks of Phoenix dactylifera. We wanted to ascertain if host identity and plant functional traits shape mycorrhizal communities. Specifically, we tested the plant life-cycle (perennial versus annual), the plant life-form (herbaceous versus woody), the plant origin (exotic versus native) and the plant species. The plant affiliation to species strongly influenced the AMF community composition. Plant life-form and plant life-cycle also shaped indicator taxa. The AMF structure differed between annual and perennial species and higher AMF richness was detected in perennial plants. The epiphytic plants associated with AMF irrespective of whether they were native or not, probably because here no functional differences derive from plant origin.     

The invasive plant species Centaurea maculosa alters arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the field

While several recent studies have described changes in microbial communities associated with exotic plant invasion, how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities respond to exotic plant invasion is not well known, despite the salient role of this group in plant interactions. Here, we use molecular methods (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses based on the large subunit of the rRNA gene) to examine AMF community structure in sites dominated by the invasive mycorrhizal forb, Centaurea maculosa Lam. (spotted knapweed), and in adjacent native grassland sites. Our results indicate that significant AMF community alteration occurs following C. maculosa invasion. Moreover, a significant reduction in the number of restriction fragment sizes was found for samples collected in C. maculosa-dominated areas, suggesting reduced AMF diversity. Extraradical hyphal lengths exhibited a significant, on average 24%, reduction in C. maculosa-versus native grass-dominated sites. As both AMF community composition and abundance were altered by C.maculosa invasion, these data are strongly suggestive of potential impacts on AMF-mediated ecosystem processes. Given that the composition of AMF communities has the potential to differentially influence different plant species, our results may have important implications for site restoration after weed invasion.     

丛枝菌根真菌在外来植物入侵演替中的作用与机制

外来植物入侵不仅是环境、经济和社会问题,也是一个生理学和生态学问题,尤其是入侵植物与本地植物、入侵植物和本地土壤生物之间的相互作用决定外来植物入侵程度。丛枝菌根真菌（AMF）作为土壤中一类极为重要的功能生物,在外来植物入侵演替过程中发挥多种不同作用。文章系统总结了AMF对入侵植物个体和群体的影响,入侵植物与本地植物竞争中AMF发挥的促进和抑制作用;探讨了AMF与入侵植物的相互作用关系,以及环境因子对AMF一入侵植物关系的影响：对AMF在外来植物入侵演替中的作用机制进行了讨论。旨在为探索控制生物入侵的新途径、为我国开展外来植物入侵研究与防控实践提供新思路。     

Different native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influence the coexistence of two plant species in a highly alkaline anthropogenic sediment

Different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can produce different amounts of extraradical mycelium (ERM) with differing architectures. They also have different efficiencies in gathering phosphate from the soil. These differences in phosphate uptake and ERM length or architecture may contribute to differential growth responses of plants and this may be an important contributor to plant species coexistence. The effects of the development of the ERM of AMF on the coexistence of two co-occurring plant species were investigated in root-free hyphal chambers in a rhizobox experimental unit. The dominant shrub (Salix atrocinerea Brot.) and herbaceous (Conyza bilbaoana J. Rémy) plant species found in a highly alkaline anthropogenic sediment were studied in symbiosis with four native AMF species (Glomus intraradices BEG163, Glomus mosseae BEG198, Glomus geosporum BEG199 and Glomus claroideum BEG210) that were the most abundant members of the AMF community found in the sediment. Different AMF species did not influence total plant productivity (sum of the biomass of C. bilbaoana and S. atrocinerea), but had a great impact on the individual biomass of each plant species. The AMF species with greater extracted ERM lengths (G. mosseae BEG198, G. claroideum BEG210 and the four mixed AMF) preferentially benefited the plant species with a high mycorrhizal dependency (C. bilbaoana), while the AMF species with the smallest ERM length (G. geosporum BEG199) benefited the plant species with a low mycorrhizal dependency (S. atrocinerea). Seed production of C. bilbaoana was only observed in plants inoculated with G. mosseae BEG198, G. claroideum BEG210 or the mixture of the four AMF. Our results show that AMF play an important role in the reproduction of C. bilbaoana coexisting with S. atrocinerea in the alkaline sediment and have the potential to stimulate or completely inhibit seed production. The community composition of native AMF and the length of the mycelium they produce spreading from roots into the surrounding soil can be determinant of the coexistence of naturally co-occurring plant species.