西藏高原针茅草地土壤因子对丛枝菌根真菌物种多样性的影响

在对西藏高原北部针茅草地根围土壤中的丛枝菌根(AM)真菌种类分离鉴定基础上,研究了藏北针茅草地的土壤质地、pH、有机质和有效磷含量对AM真菌孢子密度、分离频度、相对多度、重要值、物种多样性指数和均匀度的影响.结果表明: 针茅草地根围土壤中共分离鉴定出AM真菌3属15种,其中,球囊霉属9种、无梗囊霉属6种、盾巨孢囊霉属1种.球囊霉属和无梗囊霉属为藏北针茅草地AM真菌的优势属;近明球囊霉和光壁无梗囊霉为藏北高寒草原针茅属植物根围AM真菌的优势种.不同质地土壤中AM真菌孢子密度、分离频度、相对多度和重要值均表现出球囊霉属＞无梗囊霉属＞盾巨孢囊霉属的趋势;土壤pH值对AM真菌种群组成无明显影响,球囊霉属和无梗囊霉属真菌分离频度、相对多度和重要值随土壤pH升高而增加,盾巨孢囊霉属则呈现相反趋势;不同土壤有机质含量范围内,AM真菌孢子密度等各项指标均呈球囊霉属＞无梗囊霉属＞盾巨孢囊霉属,而AM真菌属的分布没有明显规律;土壤有效磷含量对AM真菌种丰度和孢子密度影响较小.研究区域内AM真菌物种多样性指数和均匀度随着土壤有效磷含量升高而增加.     

泰山丛枝菌根真菌群落结构特征

2007年对泰山植被根围内丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌群落组成、数量、分布及其与植物多样性的关系进行了研究。从泰山傲徕峰、黑龙潭库区等样地共分离出4属16种AM真菌:球囊霉属Glomus 9种、无梗囊霉属Acaulospora 4种、巨孢囊霉属Gigaspora 2种和盾巨孢囊霉属Scutellospora1种。其中,球囊霉属Glomus及聚球囊霉Glomus fasciculatum的孢子密度、相对多度、分布频度和重要值均最高,分别为泰山植被区根围内AM真菌优势属和优势种。各样地之间Sorenson相似系数在0.60和0.85之间。植被数量与孢子密度(r=0.80,p0.01)、植物种的丰富度与AM真菌种的丰富度(r=0.77,p0.01)以及与孢子密度(r=0.59,p0.01)均呈极显著正相关关系。研究结果表明植物多样性对于提高AM真菌多样性发挥极为重要的作用。     

荒漠柠条锦鸡儿AM真菌多样性

为了阐明荒漠柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana korshinskii Kom.)根围AM真菌群落组成及其分布特点,2010年7月从河北省与内蒙古交界荒漠带选择多伦湖、黑城子和二羊点3个样地,按0—10、10—20、20—30、30—40、40—50 cm 5个土层采集柠条根围土壤样品,研究了柠条根围AM真菌物种组成、生态分布及与土壤因子的相关性。共分离鉴定出4属24种AM真菌,其中球囊霉属(Glomus)16种,是3个样地共同优势属;无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)5种,是3个样地共有属;盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)2种;多孢囊霉属(Diversispora)1种;网状球囊霉(G.reticulatum)是黑城子和多伦湖样地优势种,二羊点亚优势种;黑球囊霉(G.melanosporum)是黑城子和二羊点样地优势种,多伦湖亚优势种;二羊点的AM真菌种类和孢子密度最高;黑城子和多伦湖样地无明显差异。AM真菌孢子密度与土壤碱解N、有机质和速效P含量极显著正相关,其中土壤碱解N影响最大。结果表明,柠条根围AM真菌物种多样性丰富,具有明显空间异质性,并与土壤因子关系密切,这为进一步分离筛选优势AM真菌菌种,充分利用AM真菌资源促进荒漠柠条生长提供了依据。     

我国洛阳与菏泽牡丹主栽园区AM真菌多样性研究

为探明我国特有花卉牡丹 (Paeonia suffruticosa) 根围内的丛枝菌根(AM)真菌资源状况, 作者对河南省洛阳市与山东省菏泽市牡丹主产区土壤中的AM真菌进行了调查。共分离到AM真菌5属35 种, 其中球囊霉属(Glomus)在各采样点相对多度最高, 其次是无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)。两地土壤中AM真菌种的丰度、孢子密度和物种多样性指数等存在差异: 菏泽赵楼牡丹园AM真菌种的孢子密度最高,而其种的丰度最低; 洛阳矬里牡丹种苗基地的孢子密度最低; 菏泽种苗基地的Shannon-Wiener指数显著高于其他样地。地球囊霉(Glomus geosporum)是洛阳王城公园和菏泽赵楼牡丹园的优势种; 缩球囊霉(Glomus constrictum)为洛阳土桥花木基地、洛阳牡丹园、菏泽牡丹种苗基地和菏泽赵楼牡丹园的优势种。本研究结果表明我国牡丹主栽园区AM真菌具有丰富的多样性。     

厦门市七种药用植物根围AM真菌的侵染率和多样性

调查了福建省厦门市7种常见药用植物根围丛枝菌根真菌分布情况、侵染率及其多样性。结果表明:7种药用植物均能与AM真菌形成良好的共生关系,且不同药用植物形成菌根的能力差异明显,盐肤木根围的孢子密度最高,29.0个/g土,喜树的侵染率最高,100%。含笑根围的孢子密度最低,4.7个/g土,鱼腥草的总侵染率最低,4.5%。共分离鉴定AM真菌4属63种,其中球囊霉属(Glomus)39种、无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)18种、巨孢囊霉属(Gigaspora)4种、盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)2种,其中Glomus、Acaulospora为优势属,黑球囊霉G.melanosporum为优势种。盐肤木根围AM真菌种类最丰富,Shannon-Weiner指数H达到1.29。侵染率与各土壤因子均无显著相关;孢子密度与pH值极显著负相关;种的丰度与pH值显著负相关、与电导率极显著负相关、与孢子密度极显著正相关;Shannon-Weiner指数H与有机质极显著负相关;均匀度与有机质、孢子密度极显著负相关。厦门地区AM真菌资源十分丰富,多样性程度高,宿主植物不同,土壤因子对其侵染率、孢子密度、种的丰度、Shannon-Weiner指数、均匀度的影响也不同。为实现AM真菌生物技术应用于中药材规范化种植提供宝贵种质资源和理论依据。     

林火对植物根围丛枝菌根真菌多样性的影响

林火是森林生态系统的一种主要干扰因子,以青岛市三标山林火迹地为研究对象,采集荆条(Vitex negundo)、胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor)、花木蓝(Indigofera kirilowii)、青花椒(Zanthoxylum schinifolium)和野青茅(Deyeuxia arundinacea)5种优势植物根围土壤,研究不同林火强度对丛枝菌根(AM)真菌多样性的影响。结果表明,AM真菌侵染率和孢子密度随火灾强度的加强而降低;非过火区植物根围土壤中,分离鉴定出AM真菌3属11种,轻度过火区分离鉴定出AM真菌3属10种,中度过火区分离鉴定出AM真菌3属9种,重度过火区分离鉴定出AM真菌3属8种。过火区AM真菌种丰度低于非过火区。过火区和非过火区AM真菌的重要值和优势种不同,非过火区植物根围的优势种是地球囊霉(Glomus geosporum)、台湾球囊霉(G.taiwanensis)、分支巨孢囊霉(Gigaspora ramisporophora)、极大巨孢囊霉(Gi.gigantean)、福摩萨球囊霉(G.formosanum)、悬钩子球囊霉(G.rubiforme)、柯氏无梗囊霉(Acaulospora koskei)和松蜜无梗囊霉(A.thomii);轻度过火区植物根围的优势种是地球囊霉和台湾球囊霉;中度过火区的是台湾球囊霉和地球囊霉(野青茅除外);重度过火区植物根围的优势种是地球囊霉。不同强度的过火区对AM真菌群落组成有不同程度的影响。认为林火降低植物根围土壤中AM真菌多样性。     

古尔班通古特沙漠南缘短命植物根际AM真菌群落特征研究

调查了我国新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南缘雅玛里克山和黑山头典型小半灌木荒漠中分布的6种优势短命植物(ephemeral plants)小车前Plantago minuta、囊瓣顶冰花Gagea sacculifera、黑鳞顶冰花Gagea nigra、伊犁郁金香Tulipa iliensis、鸢尾蒜Ixiolirion tataricum和串珠老鹳草Geranium transversale根际土壤中AM真菌多样性、孢子密度、物种丰度、相对多度、频度、重要值等。共分离到无梗囊霉属Acaulospora和球囊霉属Glomus 23种AM真菌。6种植物根际土壤中AM真菌孢子密度无显著差异。其中球囊霉属占有绝对的优势,频度为100%,相对多度为99.8%,为优势属。聚丛球囊霉G.aggregatum、幼套球囊霉G.etunicatum、近明球囊霉G.claroideum、沙漠球囊霉G.deserticola 4种AM真菌频度、孢子密度、相对多度及重要值都显著高于其它AM真菌种类,为优势种;它们的频度均大于50%,且G.aggregatum>G.claroideum>G.etunicatum>G.deserticola;它们的孢子密度大小顺序为G.aggregatum>G.etunicatum>G.claroideum>G.deserticola,其中G.aggregatum的孢子密度、频度、相对多度和重要值最高。     

不同生境下川麦冬根围土壤丛枝菌根真菌多样性北大核心CSCD

采用高通量(Illumina Miseq)测序技术对栽培和野生2种生境下川麦冬根围的丛枝菌根(AM)真菌多样性和群落结构进行测定,并结合土壤理化因子进行相关性分析,以明确两种生境下川麦冬根围土壤AM真菌多样性和优势群落的分布特点,探讨AM真菌群落分布差异的驱动因子,为AM真菌应用于麦冬生产提供理论依据和技术支持。结果表明:(1)不同生境下川麦冬根围土壤中共鉴定出AM真菌3属10种,其中野生川麦冬根围土壤鉴定出的AM真菌3属7种,分别隶属于无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)、多孢囊霉属(Diversispora)和球囊霉属(Glomus),而栽培环境下鉴定出AM真菌1属6种,隶属于球囊霉属。2个生境优势属均为球囊霉属。(2)不同生境下川麦冬根围AM真菌之间存在显著差异,野生生境下川麦冬根围土壤AM真菌多样性指数ACE和Shannon均显著高于人工栽培生境,而Simpson指数则相反。(3)相关性分析表明,AM真菌多样性指数及群落组成结构均与土壤理化因子存在相关性,其中全钾(TK)、全磷(TP)、全氮(TN)对AM真菌多样性指数和群落结构组成均存在显著影响。研究认为,不同生境下川麦冬根围AM真菌群落存在显著差异,球囊霉属为川麦冬互利共生的关键属,TK、TP、TN是不同生境川麦冬根围AM真菌群落差异的主要驱动因子。     

荒漠生境油蒿根围AM真菌多样性

为了阐明荒漠生境主要植被油蒿(Artemisia ordosica)根围AM真菌多样性, 2007年8月从毛乌素沙地和腾格里沙漠选取榆林、盐池、研究站和沙坡头4个样地, 按0–10、10–20、20–30、30–40、40–50 cm 5个土层采集油蒿根围土壤样品, 研究了油蒿根围AM真菌物种多样性和生态分布。在分离的4属28种AM真菌中, 球囊霉属(Glomus)16种, 无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)7种, 盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)4种, 多孢囊霉属(Diversispora)1种。4个样地的共同优势种为摩西球囊霉(G. mosseae), 共同常见种为双网无梗囊霉(A. bireticulata)和网状球囊霉(G. reticulatum), 共同稀有种为缩球囊霉(G. constrictum)。地球囊霉(G. geosporum)仅出现在盐池, 蜜色无梗囊霉(A. mellea)、帚状球囊霉(G. coremioides)、浅窝无梗囊霉(A. lacunosa)和宽柄球囊霉(G. magnicaule)仅出现在研究站, 黑球囊霉(G. melanosporum)仅出现在榆林。盐池与研究站样地AM真菌种类最多, 榆林样地孢子密度最大, 沙坡头样地种类和孢子密度显著偏低。总体上, 孢子密度、分离频度、相对多度和重要值依Glomus >Acaulospora > Scutellospora> Diversispora呈现显著减小趋势。结果表明, 油蒿与AM真菌之间有良好共生性, 这对进一步利用菌根生物技术维护荒漠生态系统结构的完整性具有重要意义。     

内蒙古荒漠沙柳AM真菌物种多样性

分别于2009年5月、8月和10月在内蒙古黑城子、正蓝旗和元上都3个样地采集沙柳(Salix psammophila)根围0-50 cm土层土样,研究了AM真菌群落组成及其生态分布特点.在分离的4属37种AM真菌中,球囊霉属(Glomus)23种,无梗囊霉属(Acaulospora)10种,这两属是3样地共同优势属;盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)3种,仅分布在黑城子和正蓝旗样地;巨孢囊霉属(Gigaspora)1种,仪分布在正蓝旗样地;网状球囊霉(G.reticulatum)是3样地共同优势种.AM真菌种丰度、均匀度指数、Shannon多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数大小依次是正蓝旗>黑城子>元上都;元上都样地的AM真菌组成与其他样地差异显著;8月和10月的AM真菌种丰度、Shannon多样性指数显著高于5月.随土壤碱解N含量提高,AM真菌种丰度、均匀度指数、物种多样性指数先升后降.结果提示,在评估荒漠环境沙柳和AM真菌共生关系时,AM真菌生态分布和丰富度是十分有用的指标.     

不同水肥条件下AM真菌对丹参幼苗生长和营养成分的影响

利用盆栽接种试验,探讨不同水肥条件下AM真菌摩西球囊霉Glomus mosseae对丹参幼苗生长和微量元素的影响,为丹参水肥合理施用提供理论依据。结果表明,不同水肥条件下,接种AM真菌显著提高了根系侵染率和生物量。40%相对含水量、不同施P水平,接种株丹参酮含量升高,总黄酮、丹参素及地下部总酚酸含量降低,植株Zn及地上部Ca、K、Mn、Fe含量升高,而对植株Mg、Cu和地下部Ca、K、Mn、Fe无显著影响;接种效应随施P量不同而变化。70%相对含水量、不同施P水平,接种株药用成分含量显著升高,植株Ca、Mn和地上部K、Cu及地下部Fe和Zn含量升高,而对植株Mg、地下部K、Cu和地上部Fe和Zn含量无显著影响。不同水分和同一施P水平,接种株丹参酮含量升高,地上部Ca、K和地下部Zn含量升高,接种效应因土壤含水量不同而变化,其中以70%含水量时效果最好。说明AM真菌能促进宿主植物根系对水分和矿质元素的吸收与利用,提高水分和P肥利用率,降低水分和P胁迫对丹参的伤害程度,其中以70%相对含水量,施P量为0.16 gP/kg土时AM真菌对丹参的接种效果最佳。     

AM真菌影响入侵植物黄顶菊与本土物种狗尾草竞争生长的机理研究

该研究以入侵植物黄顶菊[Flaveria bidentis(L.)Kunt]和本土伴生植物狗尾草为材料,通过筛选出黄顶菊单一优势群落AM真菌,于温室盆栽条件下,采用2物种单播、混播以及接种AM真菌和不接种共6个处理,分析AM真菌对黄顶菊和狗尾草的根系侵染率、相对竞争强度、植株氮磷钾光合利用率、以及丙二醛含量和保护酶活性的影响,探讨AM真菌对黄顶菊与狗尾草竞争生长的机理。结果显示:(1)黄顶菊根际土壤AM真菌共包括4属10种,其中优势种为Glomus constrictum、Glomus perpusillum、Glomus reticulatum;盆栽接种AM真菌后,黄顶菊的根系侵染率显著高于本土伴生植物狗尾草,但接种AM真菌后黄顶菊相对竞争强度显著降低了29.57%,却对狗尾草相对竞争强度无显著影响。(2)接种AM真菌使黄顶菊植株光合氮、磷、钾利用率显著升高,但对伴生植物狗尾草的光合氮、磷、钾利用率均无显著影响。(3)接种AM真菌对黄顶菊植株POD和CAT活性以及MDA含量无显著影响,但显著增加了SOD和APX活性,而伴对生植物狗尾草的POD、CAT和APX活性均显著降低,MDA含量显著提高。研究表明,AM真菌对黄顶菊和狗尾草具有不同的选择性,AM真菌的定植促进了黄顶菊的竞争生长,增加了植株N、P含量、光合养分利用率以及抗氧化酶活性;但显著降低了本土伴生植物狗尾草的N、P吸收以及抗氧化酶活性。因此,AM真菌在竞争生长中对黄顶菊产生了偏利反馈,有助于黄顶菊的入侵。     

Diversity and persistence of arbuscular mycorrhizas in a low-Arctic meadow habitat

Little is known about the ecology and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in Arctic ecosystems. Here, the diversity and composition of the AM fungal community and its response to host plant community composition were studied in a low-Arctic meadow habitat. The natural vegetation in two low-Arctic meadow sites was manipulated. Plots with natural vegetation, monoculture and no vegetation were established. Seeds of Solidago virgaurea were sown into the plots and the AM fungal community in the seedling roots was analysed using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) method. The vegetation manipulation treatments affected the community composition but not the diversity of AM fungi found in S. virgaurea roots. The diversity of AM fungi was higher in S. virgaurea roots in the site with naturally higher plant species diversity. These results show that AM fungi in low-Arctic meadows are able to survive for a period of 2 yr without a host plant. This ability buffers the AM fungal community against short-term changes in host plant community composition and diversity.     

黄土高原柠条锦鸡儿AM真菌多样性及空间分布

通过对陕西安塞、绥德、横山和榆林等4个不同生态条件下柠条锦鸡儿（Caragana korshinskii）AM真菌多样性和生态分布研究,共分离出4属11种AM真菌,其中球囊霉属（Glomus）5种,无梗囊霉属（Acaulospora）3种,巨孢囊霉属（Gigaspom）1种和盾巨孢囊霉属（Scutellospora）2种。结果表明,缩球囊霉（G．constrictum）和摩西球囊霉（G．mosseae）是柠条锦鸡儿的优势种;不同AM真菌种类出现的生境不同,如刺无梗囊霉（A．spinosa）和美丽盾巨孢囊霉（S．calospora）只出现在绥德,浅窝无梗囊霉（A．lacunosa）仅出现在横山,而易误巨孢囊霉（Gi．decipiens）和红色盾巨孢囊霉（S．erythropa）仅发生在延安样地。AM真菌定殖率及孢子密度与样地生态条件密切相关,泡囊定殖率和孢子密度在绥德最高,丛枝定殖率在榆林最高。采样深度对AM真菌定殖率和孢子密度有显著影响,最大孢子密度发生在10～20cm土层;而AM真菌定殖率在0～10cm或20～30cm土层有最大值。孢子密度与泡囊定殖率呈正相关,与丛枝定殖率呈负相关。孢子密度与土壤有机质、速效P、速效K和Cl含量呈负相关;泡囊定殖率与土壤pH呈正相关,而与土壤湿度、速效K和Cl^-含量呈负相关。     

Variation in mycorrhizal growth response influences competitive interactions and mechanisms of plant species coexistence

Plant species vary in their growth response to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, with responses ranging from negative to positive. Differences in response to AM fungi may affect competition between plant species, influencing their ability to coexist. We hypothesized that positively responding species, whose growth is stimulated by AM fungi, will experience stronger intraspecific competition and weaker interspecific competition in soil containing AM fungi, while neutrally or negatively responding species should experience weaker intraspecific and stronger interspecific competition. We grew Plantago lanceolata, which responds positively to AM fungi, and Bromus inermis, which responds negatively to AM fungi, in an additive response surface competition experiment that varied the total density and relative frequency of each species. Plants were grown in sterilized background soil that had been inoculated with whole soil biota, which includes AM fungi, or a microbial wash, that contained other soil microbes but no AM fungi, or in sterilized soil that contained no biota. The positively responding P. lanceolata was more strongly limited by intraspecific than interspecific competition when AM fungi were present. By contrast, the presence of AM fungi decreased the strength of intraspecific competition experienced by the negatively responding B. inermis. Because AM fungi are almost always present in soil, strong intraspecific competition in positively responding species would prevent them from outcompeting species that respond neutrally or negatively to AM fungi. The potential for increased intraspecific competition to offset growth benefits of AM fungi could, therefore, be a stabilizing mechanism that promotes coexistence among plant species.     

A comparison of nine species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the development and nutrition of micropropagated Rubus idaeus L. cv. Glen Prosen (Red Raspberry)

Growth, development and nutrient status of micropropagated Rubus idaeus cv. Glen Prosen in response to inoculation with nine species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from three different genera was investigated. The nine species of AM fungi included, Glomus clarum, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, Gigaspora rosea, Gi. gigantea, Gi. margarita, Scutellospora calospora, S. heterogama and S. persica. Plant responses to AM fungi varied from growth enhancement to growth depression. Depressive growth effects were specific to Gigaspora species. Furthermore, particular species of AM fungi had unique effects on the mineral status of the raspberry plants. Importance of isolate selection for inoculation of micropropagated raspberry plants is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

青岛胶州湾四种类型湿地AM真菌多样性

对青岛胶州湾4种类型湿地（盐田、滩涂、湖泊和河口）中芦苇Phragmites communis、香蒲Typha orientalis和碱蓬Suaeda glauca 根围土壤中丛枝菌根（arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM）真菌进行孢子分离与鉴定,分析湿地生态系统中植物根围AM真菌群落特征。共分离到AM真菌5属10种,包括斗管囊霉属Funneliformis 2种、无梗囊霉属Acaulospora 3种、近明球囊霉属Claroideoglomus 2种、球囊霉属Glomus 1种、巨孢囊霉属Gigaspora 2种,其中,斗管囊霉属Funneliformis及地斗管囊霉Funneliformis geosporum的分离频度和相对多度最高,分别为湿地中AM真菌优势属和优势种。滩涂和河口湿地中植物AM真菌侵染率显著高于湖泊和盐田湿地植物,AM真菌孢子密度以滩涂湿地最高（572个/20mL）,湖泊湿地最低（220个/20mL）;滩涂湿地的种丰度和Shannon-Wiener指数最高,分别为3.8和1.2。从植物种类来看,AM真菌侵染率总体呈现出香蒲>碱蓬>芦苇,AM真菌孢子密度以香蒲最高,芦苇最低,植物种类对AM真菌种丰度和Shannon-Wiener指数影响不显著（P>0.05）。二因素方差分析和典型RDA相关分析表明,寄主植物种类对AM真菌孢子密度有一定影响,但湿地类型对AM真菌多样性的影响更为显著（P<0.05）,胶州湾湿地土壤因子Ca ²⁺、速效P含量与AM真菌孢子密度、物种丰度和多样性指数显著负相关,而速效K、Na ⁺、pH与其显著正相关。结果表明植物种类主要影响AM真菌孢子密度,AM真菌多样性受植物种类和湿地类型综合影响,滩涂湿地较丰富的AM真菌多样性可能与该湿地较良好的理化性质有关。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of non-photosynthetic plants, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sciaphila japonica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sciaphila tosaensis</Emphasis> (Triuridaceae)

The mycorrhizal fungi in the roots of achlorophyllous Sciaphila japonica and S. tosaensis (Triuridaceae) were identified by molecular methods. The habitats of S. japonica were in a tree plantation of Japanese cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa, and bamboo forests, and those of S. tosaensis were in a camellia forest and a bamboo forest. In the root cortical cells of both plants, aseptate hyphal coils were observed, which suggested the Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). A phylogenetic analysis based on a partial sequence of an AM fungal nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA gene showed that the fungal DNA sequences of S. japonica were separated into three closely related clades. Those of S. tosaensis were separated into two clades, which were also closely related to each other. The AM fungi of S. japonica and S. tosaensis were completely separated in the phylogenetic tree even among those found in the same habitat, which suggests the high specificities in the plant-fungal partnerships. All the detected AM fungi in these plants belonged to Glomus-group A. Even though the habitats are in quite common environments, both plant species are known as endangered species in Japan. Such a definite specificity in AM symbioses seems to restrict the distribution of the myco-heterotrophic plants.     

Analogous effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the laboratory and a North Carolina field

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous symbionts of plants, the mutualism has rarely been tested in nature. In experiments designed to explore the ecological relevance of associations between different fungal and plant species in a natural environment, plant species were infected with different species of fungi and grown in separate trials in the laboratory and a North Carolina (USA) field. The benefits to plants varied dramatically as plant species were grown with different species of AM fungi. Effects of mycorrhizal fungi in nature were generally correlated to effects in the growth chamber, suggesting that laboratory data do reflect dynamics between plants and AM fungi in the field. Initial size at transplant and experimental block were also significant predictors of plant growth in the field. Correlation statistics between laboratory and field data were weaker when analyses involved plant species less responsive to infection by any AM fungus, suggesting that the response of a species to inoculation is a good predictor of its sensitivity to specific AM fungi in the field. AM fungal identity appears to influence the growth and reproduction of plants in the field.