Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of weeds on vacant land

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in weeds of vacant land were examined in spring and autumn. In total, 33 plant species belonging to 28 genera in 13 families were examined. The number of plant species with Arum-type AM was higher than those with Paris- or intermediate types in both seasons. Thus, Arum-type colonization may be beneficial for fast-growing plant species on vacant land. There was a strong relationship between plant identity and AM morphological type, as the colonization types were mostly distinguished at the plant family level.     

Arum- and Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizas in a mixed pine forest on sand dune soil in Niigata Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most widespread mycorrhiza in nature and form two morphologies, Arum- and Paris-type. The determining factors defining the two different morphologies are not well understood. In this study, the distribution of Arum- and Paris-type AM was determined in a mixed pine forest. A total of 35 plant species belonging to 20 families and 32 genera were identified and examined for AM colonization and morphological types. AM morphological types in 14 families were confirmed as follows: Arum-type in Rosaceae, Oleaceae, Lauraceae, Vitaceae and Compositae, Paris-type in Aquifoliaceae, Ulmaceae, Araliaceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Rubiaceae and Dioscoraceae, and both and/or intermediate types in Caprifoliaceae and Gramineae. Plant families whose AM morphological status was previously unknown were clarified as follows: Polygonaceae and Commelinaceae showed Arum-type morphology; Celastraceae, Menispermaceae and Elaeagnaceae had typical Paris-type morphology. The proportion of Arum-type to Paris-type species decreased in the following order: annuals > perennials > deciduous species > evergreen species, and pioneer group > early successional group > late successional group. Evergreen plants had a higher tendency to form Paris-type AM than annuals, perennials and deciduous plants. The results indicate that environmental changes, such as shade during plant succession, control the distribution of plant growth forms in mixed pine forest and may also play a part in the distribution of Arum- and Paris-type morphology. The identity of the plant seems to strongly influence AM morphology, though control by the fungal genome cannot be ruled out.     

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizas in pioneer woody plants growing in an oil palm farm in Sumatra, Indonesia

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in pioneer woody plants were examined in an oil palm farm 1 year after reclamation. In total, 18 plant species belonging to 15 genera in 9 families were examined, and the Arum type was found in 12 species belonging to 9 genera in 5 families. In contrast, the Paris type was found in 5 species belonging to 5 genera in 4 families. The number of plant species with Arum-type AM was always higher than that with Paris-type AM in all four sampling plots. All the examined species in Euphorbiaceae, most of which are fast-growing pioneer trees and were dominant in forming the canopy in secondary forests, were found to have Arum-type AM. These results suggest that Arum-type colonization is beneficial for fast-growing woody plant species.     

Morphology and colonization preference of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clethra barbinervis</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycopersicon esculentum</Emphasis>

Clethra barbinervis (Ericales), Cucumis sativus, and Lycopersicon esculentum were grown in soils collected from six different vegetation sites (cedar, cypress, larch, red pine, bamboo grass, and Italian ryegrass), and morphology and colonization preference of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were investigated by microscopic observation and PCR detection. C. barbinervis consistently formed Paris-type AM throughout the sites. C. sativus formed both Arum- and Paris-type AM with high occurrence of Arum-type AM. L. esculentum also formed both Arum- and Paris-type AM but with high occurrence of Paris-type AM. AM diversity within the same plant species was different among the sites. Detected AM diversity from AM spores in different site soils did not consistently reflect AM fungal diversity seen in test plants. Detected families were different, depending on test plants grown even in the same soil. AM fungi belonging to Glomaceae were consistently detected from roots of all test plants throughout the sites. Almost all the families were detected from roots of C. barbinervis and L. esculentum. On the other hand, only two or three families of AM fungi (Archaeosporaceae and/or Paraglomaceae and Glomaceae) but not two other families (Acaulosporaceae and Gigasporaceae) were detected from roots of C. sativus, indicating strong colonization preference of AM fungi to C. sativus among test plants. This study demonstrated that host plant species strongly influenced the colonization preference of AM fungi in the roots.     

Host-related variability in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal structures in roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hedera rhombea</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus parvifolius</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa multiflora</Emphasis> under controlled conditions

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) morphology of three host plant species inoculated with single and mixed fungal culture and the distribution of AM fungal species in roots of the hosts treated with a mixed culture of AM fungi were determined. The aim was to investigate the effect of host plants and AM fungi on AM morphology of coexisting plant species. Noncolonized rooted cuttings of Hedera rhombea (Miq) Bean, Rubus parvifolius L., and Rosa multiflora Thunb. were inoculated with five fungal species as single and mixed culture inocula. The fungal species used were Gigaspora rosea and Scutellospora erythropa, previously isolated from H. rhombea; Acaulospora longula and Glomus etunicatum from R. parvifolius; and Glomus claroideum from both plant species. A few hyphal and arbusculate coils were seen in the mixed culture-inoculated roots of R. parvifolius; all fungal treatments produced this Paris-type AM in H. rhombea and Arum-type AM in R. parvifolius, and R. multiflora indicates that AM morphology is strongly controlled by the identity of the host plants used in this study. AM fungal rDNA was extracted separately from roots of each replicate plant species inoculated with the mixed fungal culture, amplified, cloned, sequenced, and analyzed to determine the AM fungal species and their respective proportions in roots of each plant species. Glomus etunicatum and G. claroideum of the family Glomaceae generally occurred more frequently in R. parvifolius and R. multiflora, which form Arum-types, whereas S. erythropa, of the family Gigasporaceae, was the most frequently detected species in H. rhombea, which produced Paris-type AM. Although the genotype of the plant species used appears to determine the AM morphologies formed, there was preferential association between the hosts and AM fungal inoculants.     

Cooccurring plants forming distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal morphologies harbor similar AM fungal species

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal spores were isolated from field transplants and rhizosphere soil of Hedera rhombea (Miq) Bean and Rubus parvifolius L., which form Paris-type and Arum-type AM, respectively. DNA from the spore isolates was used to generate molecular markers based on partial large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA (rDNA) sequences to determine AM fungi colonizing field-collected roots of the two plant species. Species that were isolated as spores and identified morphologically and molecularly were Gigaspora rosea and Scutellospora erythropa from H. rhombea, Acaulospora longula and Glomus etunicatum from R. parvifolius, and Glomus claroideum from both plants. The composition of the AM fungal communities with respect to plant trap cultures was highly divergent between plant species. Analysis of partial LSU rDNA sequences amplified from field-collected roots of the two plant species with PCR primers designed for the AM fungi indicated that both plants were colonized by G. claroideum, G. etunicatum, A. longula, and S. erythropa. G. rosea was not detected in the field-collected roots of either plant species. Four other AM fungal genotypes, which were not isolated as spores in trap cultures from the two plant species, were also found in the roots of both plant species; two were closely related to Glomus intraradices and Glomus clarum. One genotype, which was most closely related to Glomus microaggregatum, was confined to R. parvifolius, whereas an uncultured Glomeromycotan fungus occurred only in roots of H. rhombea. S. erythropa was the most dominant fungus found in the roots of H. rhombea. The detection of the same AM fungal species in field-collected roots of H. rhombea and R. parvifolius, which form Paris- and Arum-type AM, respectively, shows that AM morphology in these plants is strongly influenced by the host plant genotypes as appears to be the case in many plant species in natural ecosystems, although there are preferential associations between the hosts and colonizing AM fungi in this study.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal morphology and dark septate fungal associations in medicinal and aromatic plants of Western Ghats, Southern India

We investigated roots of 107 medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in the Western Ghats region of Southern India for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) associations. Of the 107 MAPs belonging to 98 genera in 52 families examined, 79 were AM and 38 harbored a DSE association. Typical Arum- and Paris-type mycorrhizas are first reported in the presumed nonmycorrhizal family Amaranthaceae. Similarly, DSE associations are recorded for the first time in nine plant families and 37 plant species. Thirty MAPs had both AM and DSE associations. The number of MAPs having Arum-type mycorrhiza was greater than those having Paris-type. This was more prominent among herbaceous plants than in trees where the Paris-type was predominant. Similarly, the Arum-type was more prevalent in annuals than in perennials. DSE associations were more frequent in herbs and perennials compared to other MAPs.     

Presence of different arbuscular mycorrhizal infection patterns in roots of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Lotus glaber</Emphasis> plants growing in the Salado River basin

Morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with Lotus glaber in sodic soils of the Salado River basin were studied. At least eight colonization patterns (IP) of AM fungi in roots of L. glaber were observed after 30 plants were analyzed. Arum- and Paris-type infection were found in the same plant species. This result supports the idea that AM morphology is not solely under plant control, but is also influenced by fungal identity. One infection pattern, presumably corresponding to Glomus intraradices, and a second, possibly assignable to Glomus tenue, were the most commonly found. Our results reinforce previous suggestions that G. intraradices is well adapted to sodic-saline conditions and may play a role in the resistance of L. glaber to these soils.     

Positive association between mycorrhiza and foliar endophytes in Poa bonariensis, a native grass

The interaction between mycorrhiza and leaf endophytes (Neotyphodium sp.) was studied in three Poa bonariensis populations, a native grass, differing significantly in endophyte infection. The association between endophytes and mycorrhizal fungi colonisation was assessed by analysing plant roots collected from the field. We found that roots from endophyte-infected populations showed a significantly higher frequency of colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi and that soil parameters were not related to endophyte infection or mycorrhiza colonization. In addition, we did not observe significant differences in the number of AM propagules in soils of the three populations sites. We also report the simultaneous development of Paris-type and Arum-type mycorrhiza morphology within the same root systems of P. bonariensis. The co-occurrence of both colonisation types in one and the same root system found in the three populations, which differed in Neotyphodium infection, suggests that foliar endophytes do not determine AM morphology. The percentage of root length colonised by different types of fungal structures (coils, arbuscules, longitudinal hyphae and vesicles) showed significant and positive differences in arbuscular frequency associated with endophyte infection, whereas the much smaller amounts of vesicles and hyphal coils did not differ significantly.     

Presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in South Florida native plants

The roots of 27 species of South Florida plants in 15 families (including one cycad, six palms, one Smilax, and 19 dicotyledons) native to pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock communities were examined for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These plants grow in the biologically diverse but endangered Greater Everglades habitat. Roots from field-grown and potted plants were cleared and stained. All 27 species had AMF and include 14 species having an endangered or threatened status. The Paris-type colonization occurred in two species in the families Annonaceae and Smilacaceae. The Arum-type occurred in 22 species in the families Anacardiaceae, Arecaceae (Palmae), Boraginaceae, Cactaceae (questionable), Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae, Polygalaceae, Rubiaceae, Simaroubaceae, Ulmaceae, and Zamiaceae. Three species in the families Fabaceae, Lauraceae, and Simaroubaceae had a mix of Paris- and Arum-types. The results have implications for the restoration of these endangered plant communities in the Everglades.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with common pteridophytes in Dujiangyan,southwest China

The colonization and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with common pteridophytes were investigated in Dujiangyan, southwest China. Of the 34 species of ferns from 16 families collected, 31 were colonized by AM fungi. The mean percentage root length colonized was 15%, ranging from 0 to 47%. Nineteen species formed Paris-type and 10 intermediate-type AM. In two ferns, only rare intercellular non-septate hyphae or vesicles were observed in the roots and AM type could not be determined. Of the 40 AM fungal taxa belonging to five genera isolated from rooting-zone soils, 32 belonged to Glomus, five to Acaulospora, one to Archaeospora, one to Entrophospora, and one to Gigaspora. Acaulospora and Glomus were the dominant genera and Glomus versiforme was the most common species. The average AM spore density was 213 per 100 g air-dried soil and the average species richness was 3.7 AM species per soil sample. There was no correlation between spore density and percentage root length colonized by AM fungi.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant symbiosis in a saline-sodic soil

The seasonality of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi–plant symbiosis in Lotus glaber Mill. and Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) O.K. and the association with phosphorus (P) plant nutrition were studied in a saline-sodic soil at the four seasons during a year. Plant roots of both species were densely colonized by AM fungi (90 and 73%, respectively in L. glaber and S. secundatum) at high values of soil pH (9.2) and exchangeable sodium percentage (65%). The percentage of colonized root length differed between species and showed seasonality. The morphology of root colonization had a similar pattern in both species. The arbuscular colonization fraction increased at the beginning of the growing season and was positively associated with increased P concentration in both shoot and root tissue. The vesicular colonization fraction was high in summer when plants suffer from stress imposed by high temperatures and drought periods, and negatively associated with P in plant tissue. Spore and hyphal densities in soil were not associated with AM root colonization and did not show seasonality. Our results suggest that AM fungi can survive and colonize L. glaber and S. secundatum roots adapted to extreme saline-sodic soil condition. The symbiosis responds to seasonality and P uptake by the host altering the morphology of root colonization.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of the dominant plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization was observed on four plant species in primary successional volcanic deserts on the Southeast slope of Mount Fuji. The AM colonization of the dominant species, Polygonum cuspidatum, contradicts the conclusion that Polygonaceae are often regarded as being non-mycorrhizal species. The secondary dominant species, Polygonum weyrichii var. alpinum, formed no mycorrhizas. The roots of Cirsium purpuratum, Clematis stans and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis, showed a higher percentage of AM colonization than P. cuspidatum. AM colonization and spore density in the rhizosphere soil of P. cuspidatum significantly decreased as elevation increased. AM colonization in roots of Cirsium purpuratum and Clematis stans also tended to decrease with increased altitudes. Cirsium purpuratum and Campanula punctata ssp. hondoensis formed single structural types of Arum- and Paris-type, respectively, whereas P. cuspidatum and Clematis stans formed both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies.     

Weed control and cover crop management affect mycorrhizal colonization of grapevine roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore populations in a California vineyard

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi naturally colonize grapevines in California vineyards. Weed control and cover cropping may affect AM fungi directly, through destruction of extraradical hyphae by soil disruption, or indirectly, through effects on populations of mycorrhizal weeds and cover crops. We examined the effects of weed control (cultivation, post-emergence herbicides, pre-emergence herbicides) and cover crops (Secale cereale cv. Merced rye, × Triticosecale cv.Trios 102) on AM fungi in a Central Coast vineyard. Seasonal changes in grapevine mycorrhizal colonization differed among weed control treatments, but did not correspond with seasonal changes in total weed frequency. Differences in grapevine colonization among weed control treatments may be due to differences in mycorrhizal status and/or AM fungal species composition among dominant weed species. Cover crops had no effect on grapevine mycorrhizal colonization, despite higher spring spore populations in cover cropped middles compared to bare middles. Cover crops were mycorrhizal and shared four AM fungal species (Glomus aggregatum, G. etunicatum, G. mosseae, G. scintillans) in common with grapevines. Lack of contact between grapevine roots and cover crop roots may have prevented grapevines from accessing higher spore populations in the middles.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizas on Athyrium yokoscense and A. niponicum grown at a lead-contaminated site

To investigate the occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and their morphological types, four Athyrium yokoscense and five A. niponicum individuals were collected at a lead-contaminated site. Three of the A. yokoscense and four of the A. niponicum formed AM structures. However, the percentage of AM formation within both species differed significantly among individuals. Morphological types of most AM structures were the Paris-type, except for one A. yokoscense that formed both Paris-type and Arum-type-like structures in different parts of the same root section. These results demonstrate that the two Athyrium species form AM associations in lead-contaminated soil.     

Mycorrhizal status of plant species in the Chaco Serrano Woodland from central Argentina

We examined the mycorrhizal type of 128 plant species in two patches of native vegetation of the Chaco Serrano Woodland, central Argentina, the largest dry forest area in South America. Of the 128 plant species investigated (belonging to 111 genera in 53 families), 114 were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM), orchid mycorrhizal associations were present in the five terrestrial orchid species analyzed, one ectomycorrhiza was only present in Salix humboldtiana Willd., and 96 harbored a dark septate endophyte (DSE) association. Co-occurrence of AM and DSE was observed in 88 plant species. We determine morphological types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Arum, Paris, and intermediate AM structures) and report the mycorrhizal status in 106 new species, 12 of which are endemic to central Argentina and two, Aa achalensis Schltr. and Buddleja cordobensis Griseb., are declared to be vulnerable species. Root colonization in the Chaco Serrano Woodland is widespread and should be considered in revegetation programs due to the deterioration of this particular ecosystem. Considering the predominance of AM and DSE associations and the various potential benefits that these associations may bring to plant establishment, they should receive special attention in conservation and reforestation of these woodlands.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal status of some Kashmir Himalayan alien invasive plants

In view of the recently reported role of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in plant invasions, we examined 63 alien plant species representing 26 families, collected from diverse habitat types in the Kashmir Himalaya, India, for the extent and type of their AM association. Based on the percent AM fungal root length colonization (% RLC), the investigated plants were categorized into five classes (class A = 0–5% RLC, class B = 6–25%, class C = 26–50%, class D = 51–75%, and class E = 76–100%). The number of species belonging to each of these classes was 7, 6, 22, 19, and 9, respectively. The AM colonization in 33 plant species was of Arum-type, 18 species was of Paris-type, and eight species harbored an intermediate type. Such baseline information on a large number of alien plants inhabiting diverse habitats in different biogeographical regions is needed for elucidating the role of AM fungi in alien plant invasions.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on inter- and intraspecific competition of two grassland species

We were interested in the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in the competition between plants of different sizes. A pot experiment of factorial design was established, in which AM root colonization and competition were used as treatments. Five-week-old Prunella vulgaris seedlings were chosen as target plants (i.e. plants whose response to competition was studied) and the following (13 replicates of each) were used as neighbours: (1) a large, 10-week-old P. vulgaris, (2) two P. vulgaris seedlings, and (3) a large, 10-week-old Fragaria vesca. In the experiment where small neighbours were grown together with small target plants, competition did not reduce target plant weight significantly, compared to the other two treatments. The competitive effects of large neighbours were significant, regardless of species (both older neighbours reduced the weights of target plants similarly), but there was a clear difference between intra- and interspecific competition when plants were mycorrhizal. In intraspecific competition with a large neighbour, the target plant shoot weight was reduced 24% when inoculated with AM. Thus, AM amplified rather than balanced intraspecific competition. In interspecific competition with old F. vesca, the shoot weights of target plants were 22% greater when inoculated with AM than when non-mycorrhizal. The results showed that, for given soil condition, AM might increase species diversity by increasing competitive intraspecific suppression and decreasing the interspecific suppression of small plants by larger neighbours.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased early growth of two nontimber forest product species Dyera polyphylla and Aquilaria filaria under greenhouse conditions

Nontimber forest products (NTFPs) represent an important source of income to millions of people in tropical forest regions, but some NTFP species have decreased in number and become endangered due to overexploitation. There is increasing concern that the planting stocks of Dyera polyphylla and Aquilaria filaria are not sufficient to sustain the yield of NTFPs and promote forest conservation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Glomus clarum and Gigaspora decipiens, on the early growth of two NTFP species, D. polyphylla and A. filaria, under greenhouse conditions. The seedlings of both species were inoculated with G. clarum or G. decipiens, or uninoculated (control) under greenhouse conditions. Percentage of AM colonization, plant growth, survival rate, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were measured after 180 days of growth. The percentage of AM colonization of D. polyphylla and A. filaria ranged from 87 to 93% and from 22 to 39%, respectively. Colonization by G. clarum and G. decipiens increased plant height, diameter, and shoot and root dry weights. Shoot N and P concentrations of the seedlings were increased by AM colonization by as much as 70–153% and 135–360%, respectively. Survival rates were higher in the AM-colonized seedlings at 180 days after transplantation than in the control seedlings. The results suggest that AM fungi can accelerate the establishment of the planting stocks of D. polyphylla and A. filaria, thereby promoting their conservation ecologically and sustaining the production of these NTFPs economically.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with the Meliaceae on Hainan island, China

Species richness, spore density, frequency of occurrence, and relative abundance of AM fungi were determined in rhizosphere soil samples from nine tropical rainforest sites on Hainan island, south China, and the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) status of members of the Meliaceae was examined. All 28 plant taxa investigated (25 species including two varieties of 1 species and three varieties of another) were colonized by AM fungi. The mean proportion of root length colonized was 56% (range 10–95%). Vesicles were observed in 27 and hyphal coils in 26 of the 28 plant taxa. Mycorrhizas were of the Paris-type or intermediate-type, with no Arum-type mycorrhizas observed. Species richness of AM fungi varied from 3 to 15 and spore density from 46 to 1,499 per 100 g rhizosphere soil. Of 33 AM fungal taxa in five genera isolated and identified, 18 belonged to Glomus, 9 to Acaulospora, 1 to Entrophospora, 2 to Gigaspora, and 3 to Scutellospora. Acaulospora and Glomus were the dominant genera identified. Glomus claroideum was the taxon most commonly isolated, with a frequency of occurrence of 56.5% and relative abundance of 10.4%. A positive correlation was found between percentage of root length colonization and species richness. However, there was no correlation between spore density and percentage of root length colonized by AM fungi.