Role of Extrinsic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Wetlands with Various Soil Moisture Levels

This study presents an efficient heavy metal (HM) control method in HM-contaminated wetlands with varied soil moisture levels through the introduction of extrinsic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) into natural wetland soil containing indigenous AMF species. A pot culture experiment was designed to determine the effect of two soil water contents (5–8% and 25–30%), five extrinsic AMF inoculants (Glomus mosseae, G. clarum, G. claroideum, G. etunicatum, and G. intraradices), and HM contamination on root colonization, plant growth, and element uptake of common reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel) plantlets in wetland soils. This study showed the prevalence of mycorrhizae in the roots of all P. australis plantlets, regardless of extrinsic AMF inoculations, varied soil moisture or HM levels. It seems that different extrinsic AMF inoculations effectively lowered HM concentrations in the aboveground tissues of P. australis at two soil moisture levels. However, metal species, metal concentrations, and soil moisture should also be very important factors influencing the elemental uptake performance of plants in wetland ecosystems. Besides, the soil moisture level significantly influenced plant growth (including height, and shoot and root dry weight (DW)), and extrinsic AMF inoculations differently affected shoot DW.     

石油污染土壤中不同人工林木根际丛枝菌根真菌与球囊霉素的研究

以陕西延长县石油污染区常见的13种人工种植林木为材料,测定了各人工种植林木根际丛枝菌根(AM)真菌发育状况、污染土壤的理化性质、土壤酶活性和球囊霉素含量,探讨AM真菌在石油污染土壤生态修复中的作用。结果表明,13种林木均能形成AM,其定殖率平均为63.2%,孢子密度平均为1.93个.g-1干土,其中受污染程度最低的柠条AM真菌定殖率和孢子密度最高,分别为91.6%和4.73个.g-1干土;毛白杨、狼牙刺和刺槐的根际土壤养分(有机碳、碱解氮、速效磷)含量相对较高;各种人工种植林木的根际土壤球囊霉素含量、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性随根际土壤石油烃污染浓度的增加而明显升高,其中刺槐、狼牙刺和酸枣根际土壤的过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性都较高,同时这3种林木的球囊霉素含量也较高。因此,林木根际土壤球囊霉素含量、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性可以作为石油污染的敏感指标。     

Simulated Nitrogen Deposition Causes a Decline of Intra- and Extraradical Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Changes in Microbial Community Structure in Northern Hardwood Forests

Increased nitrogen (N) deposition caused by human activities has altered ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. To understand the effects of altered N availability, we measured the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the microbial community in northern hardwood forests exposed to long-term (12 years) simulated N deposition (30 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and hyphal in-growth bags. Intra- and extraradical AMF biomass and total microbial biomass were significantly decreased by simulated N deposition by 36, 41, and 24%, respectively. Both methods of extraradical AMF biomass estimation (soil PLFA 16:1ω5c and hyphal in-growth bags) showed comparable treatment responses, and extraradical biomass represented the majority of total (intra-plus extraradical) AMF biomass. N deposition also significantly affected the microbial community structure, leading to a 10% decrease in fungal to bacterial biomass ratios. Our observed decline in AMF and total microbial biomass together with changes in microbial community structure could have substantial impacts on the nutrient and carbon cycling within northern hardwood forest ecosystems.     

Community Structure of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Rhizospheric Soil of a Transgenic High-Methionine Soybean and a Near Isogenic Variety

The use of transgenic plants in agriculture provides many economic benefits, but it also raises concerns over the potential impact of transgenic plants on the environment. We here examined the impact of transgenic high-methionine soybean ZD91 on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community structure in rhizosphere soil. Our investigations based on clone libraries were conducted in field trials at four growth stages of the crops each year from 2012 to 2013. A total of 155 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of AM fungi were identified based on the sequences of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genes. There were no significant differences found in AM fungal diversity in rhizosphere soil during the same growth stage between transgenic soybean ZD91 and its non-transgenic parental soybean ZD. In addition, plant growth stage and year had the strongest effect on the AM fungal community structure while the genetically modified (GM) trait studied was the least explanatory factor. In conclusion, we found no indication that transgenic soybean ZD91 cultivation poses a risk for AM fungal communities in agricultural soils.     

不同施氮水平下丛枝菌根真菌对藜麦生长和根系生理特征的影响

采用盆栽实验,以藜麦品种‘亿隆1号’为实验材料,探究在不同施氮量(纯氮用分别为0、0.2、0.4和0.6g/kg)接种2种丛枝菌根真菌(AM)即摩西球囊霉(Gm)和扭形球囊霉(Gt)对藜麦及其根系生长指标以及生理指标的影响,为提高氮肥利用率提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)在0.4g/kg施氮量下,接种Gm藜麦根系侵染率和菌根依赖性最大。(2)同一接种处理下,藜麦株高、基径、叶面积、地上部生物量、总根长等根系生长指标,以及根系抗氧化酶活性均随施氮量的增加呈先增加后减小的趋势;与未接种处理相比,接种AM真菌后上述各指标均显著增加,均在0.4g/kg施氮量下达到最大值,且接种Gm的增幅大于接种Gt。(3)同一接种处理下,藜麦根系MDA含量、可溶性糖含量和脯氨酸含量随施氮量的增加均呈先减小后增加的趋势;与未接种处理相比,接种AM真菌后藜麦根系MDA含量显著减小,而其根系可溶性糖含量和脯氨酸含量增加,且接种Gm根系MDA含量降幅以及可溶性糖含量和脯氨酸含量的增幅显著大于接种Gt。研究表明,适量施氮可显著增加藜麦根系摩西球囊霉和扭形球囊霉的侵染率及其菌根依赖性指数,促进藜麦地上部及根系的生长,同时增加其根系抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的积累,减少了体内有害物质的积累,并以摩西球囊霉配合施氮0.4g/kg效果最佳。     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Bacillus cereus, and Candida parapsilosis from a Multicontaminated Soil Alleviate Metal Toxicity in Plants

We investigated if the limited development of Trifolium repens growing in a heavy metal (HM) multicontaminated soil was increased by selected native microorganisms, bacteria (Bacillus cereus (Bc)), yeast (Candida parapsilosis (Cp)), or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), used either as single or dual inoculants. These microbial inoculants were assayed to ascertain whether the selection of HM-tolerant microorganisms can benefit plant growth and nutrient uptake and depress HM acquisition. The inoculated microorganisms, particularly in dual associations, increased plant biomass by 148% (Bc), 162%, (Cp), and 204% (AMF), concomitantly producing the highest symbiotic (AMF colonisation and nodulation) rates. The lack of AMF colonisation and nodulation in plants growing in this natural, polluted soil was compensated by adapted microbial inoculants. The metal bioaccumulation abilities of the inoculated microorganisms and particularly the microbial effect on decreasing metal concentrations in shoot biomass seem to be involved in such effects. Regarding microbial HM tolerance, the activities of antioxidant enzymes known to play an important role in cell protection by alleviating cellular oxidative damage, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase, were here considered as an index of microbial metal tolerance. Enzymatic mechanisms slightly changed in the HM-adapted B. cereus or C. parapsilosis in the presence of metals. Antioxidants seem to be directly involved in the adaptative microbial response and survival in HM-polluted sites. Microbial inoculations showed a bioremediation potential and helped plants to develop in the multicontaminated soil. Thus, they could be used as a biotechnological tool to improve plant development in HM-contaminated environments.     

The Exotic Legume Tree Species Acacia holosericea Alters Microbial Soil Functionalities and the Structure of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community

The response of microbial functional diversity as well as its resistance to stress or disturbances caused by the introduction of an exotic tree species, Acacia holosericea, ectomycorrhized or not with Pisolithus albus, was examined. The results show that this ectomycorrhizal fungus promotes drastically the growth of this fast-growing tree species in field conditions after 7 years of plantation. Compared to the crop soil surrounding the A. holosericea plantation, this exotic tree species, associated or not with the ectomycorrhizal symbiont, induced strong modifications in soil microbial functionalities (assessed by measuring the patterns of in situ catabolic potential of microbial communities) and reduced soil resistance in response to increasing stress or disturbance (salinity, temperature, and freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles). In addition, A. holosericea strongly modified the structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities. These results show clearly that exotic plants may be responsible for important changes in soil microbiota affecting the structure and functions of microbial communities.     

Changes in Communities of Fusarium and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Related to Different Asparagus Cultural Factors

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a high-value perennial vegetable crop that has shown a marked decline in productivity after many years of continuous harvesting. This decline is caused by an increase in both abiotic (autotoxicity, harvesting pressure) and biotic stresses [fungal infections, mainly Fusarium crown and root rot (FCRR)]. To gain insight into disease development and possible mitigation strategies, we studied the effects of harvesting, time in the growing season, and field age on FCRR development, Fusarium species composition, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities in both a controlled field experiment and an ecological survey of commercial fields. In one experiment, a 3-year-old asparagus field was subdivided into plots that were harvested or not and sampled throughout the growing season to assess short-term dominant Fusarium species shifts. In addition, diseased and healthy asparagus plants sampled from six commercial fields in the same geographical region were used to assess Fusarium and AMF communities in relation to different parameters. Fusarium and AMF communities were described by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) approach, and results were analyzed by mainly correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis. Results showed that dominant Fusarium taxa assemblages changed throughout the growing season. Harvested plots had significantly more FCRR symptomatic plants at the end of the growing season, but this effect was not related with any trend in Fusarium community structure. Sampling site and plant age significantly influenced AMF community structure, whereas only sampling site consistently influenced the Fusarium community. Diseased and healthy plants harbored similar Fusarium and AMF communities. Shifts in Fusarium community might not be responsible for different disease incidence because they are ubiquitous regardless of plant health status or harvesting regime. The different incidence noted might rather be related to plant physiology, antagonist microbial communities, or soil parameters.     

Phytoprotective Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Species Against Arsenic Toxicity in Tropical Leguminous Species

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improve the tolerance of hosting plants to arsenic (As) in contaminated soils. This work assessed the phytoprotective effect of Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora morrowiae, Gigaspora gigantea, and Acaulospora sp. on four leguminous species (Acacia mangium, Crotalaria juncea, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, and Stizolobium aterrimum) in an As-contaminated soil from a gold mining area. AMF root colonization, biomass production, As and P accumulation, as well as arsenic translocation index (TI) from roots to shoots were measured. The AMF phytoprotective effect was assessed by the P/As ratio and the activity of plant antioxidant enzymes. The AMF colonization ranged from 24 to 28%. In general, all leguminous species had low As TI when inoculated with AMF species. Inoculation of C. juncea with Acaulospora sp. improved significantly As accumulation in roots, and decreased the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), highlighting its phytoprotective effect and the potential use of this symbiosis for phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils. However, S. aterrimum has also shown a potential for phytoremediation irrespectively of AMF inoculation. APX was a good indicator of the phytoprotective effect against As contamination in C. juncea and A. mangium. In general P/As ratio in shoots was the best indicator of the phytoprotective effect of all AMF species in all plant species.     

Effects of Metal Phytoextraction Practices on the Indigenous Community of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi at a Metal-Contaminated Landfill

Phytoextraction involves use of plants to remove toxic metals from soil. We examined the effects of phytoextraction practices with three plant species (Silene vulgaris, Thlaspi caerulescens, and Zea mays) and a factorial variation of soil amendments (either an ammonium or nitrate source of nitrogen and the presence or absence of an elemental sulfur supplement) on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomales, Zygomycetes) at a moderately metal-contaminated landfill located in St. Paul, Minn. Specifically, we tested whether the applied treatments affected the density of glomalean spores and AM root colonization in maize. Glomalean fungi from the landfill were grouped into two morphotypes characterized by either light-colored spores (LCS) or dark-colored spores (DCS). Dominant species of the LCS morphotype were Glomus mosseae and an unidentified Glomus sp., whereas the DCS morphotype was dominated by Glomus constrictum. The density of spores of the LCS morphotype from the phytoremediated area was lower than the density of these spores in the untreated landfill soil. Within the experimental area, spore density of the LCS morphotype in the rhizosphere of mycorrhizal maize was significantly higher than in rhizospheres of nonmycorrhizal S. vulgaris or T. caerulescens. Sulfur supplement increased vesicular root colonization in maize and exerted a negative effect on spore density in maize rhizosphere. We conclude that phytoextraction practices, e.g., the choice of plant species and soil amendments, may have a great impact on the quantity and species composition of glomalean propagules as well as on mycorrhiza functioning during long-term metal-remediation treatments.     

Diversity of Rhizosphere Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Various Soybean Cultivars under Different Continuous Cropping Regimes

Recent studies have shown that continuous cropping in soybean causes substantial changes to the microbial community in rhizosphere soil. In this study, we investigated the effects of continuous cropping for various time periods on the diversity of rhizosphere soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in various soybean cultivars at the branching stage. The soybean cultivars Heinong 37 (an intermediate cultivar), Heinong 44 (a high-fat cultivar) and Heinong 48 (a high-protein cultivar) were seeded in a field and continuously cropped for two or three years. We analyzed the diversity of rhizosphere soil AM fungi of these soybean plants at the branching stage using morphological and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) techniques. The clustering analysis of unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) was then used to investigate the AM fungal community shifts. The results showed that increasing the number of years of continuous cropping can improve the colonization rate of AM fungi in different soybean cultivars at the branching stage. The dominant AM fungi in the experimental fields were Funneliformismosseae and Glomus spp. The number of years of continuous cropping and the soybean cultivar both had obvious effects on the diversity of AM fungi, which was consistent with the results of colonization rate analysis. This study establishes a basis for screening dominant AM fungi of soybean. In addition, the results of this study may be useful for the development of AM fungal inoculants.     

丛枝菌根真菌对羊草生物量和氮磷吸收及土壤碳的影响

采用大田试验的方法在内蒙古锡林格勒草原进行牧草接种试验,通过灭菌和未灭菌两种土壤研究接种丛枝菌根真菌Glomus mosseae和Glomus claroidium对内蒙古典型草原优势种羊草生长的影响.结果显示,接种丛枝菌根真菌对羊草的地上部干重未产生显著影响,但向未灭菌土壤中接种能显著增加羊草根系量,同时接种G.mosseae显著增加了地上部的N、P含量及吸收量,有效地改善了植株N、P营养,提高了牧草品质;2种菌对根系的营养吸收影响不同,接种G.mosseae在灭菌土壤和未灭菌土壤中均能显著增加根系的N、P吸收量,而接种G.claroidium仅在土壤未灭菌状态下增加根系N、P吸收量;接种对土壤中的菌丝密度未产生显著影响,但接种后土壤中微生物量碳有增加的趋势,短期内难以观察到接种对土壤有机碳的影响.研究表明,丛枝菌根真菌能够提高牧草对N、P吸收,促进牧草的生长,改善牧草品质,增强牧草根际微生物量碳.     

Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Uptake of Phosphorus and Nitrogen From Soil

Abstract

Colonization of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can greatly increase the plant uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen. The most prominent contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to plant growth is due to uptake of nutrients by extraradical mycorrhizal hyphae. Quantification of hyphal nutrient uptake has become possible by the use of soil boxes with separated growing zones for roots and hyphae. Many (but not all) tested fungal isolates increased phosphorus and nitrogen uptake of the plant by absorbing phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate from soil. However, compared with the nutrient demand of the plant for growth, the contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to plant phosphorus uptake is usually much larger than the contribution to plant nitrogen uptake. The utilization of soil nutrients may depend more on efficient uptake of phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium from the soil solution even at low supply concentrations than on mobilization processes in the hyphosphere. In contrast to ectomycorrhizal fungi, nonsoluble nutrient sources in soil are used only to a limited extent by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Side effects of mycorrhizal colonization on, for example, plant health or root activity may also influence plant nutrient uptake.     

Community Dynamics of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in High-Input and Intensively Irrigated Rice Cultivation Systems

Application of a mycorrhizal inoculum could be one way to increase the yield of rice plants and reduce the application of fertilizer. We therefore studied arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the roots of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) collected at the seedling, tillering, heading, and ripening stages in four paddy wetlands that had been under a high-input and intensively irrigated rice cultivation system for more than 20 years. It was found that AMF colonization was mainly established in the heading and ripening stages. The AMF community structure was characterized in rhizosphere soils and roots from two of the studied paddy wetlands. A fragment covering the partial small subunit (SSU), the whole internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and the partial large subunit (LSU) rRNA operon regions of AMF was amplified, cloned, and sequenced from roots and soils. A total of 639 AMF sequences were obtained, and these were finally assigned to 16 phylotypes based on a phylogenetic analysis, including 12 phylotypes from Glomeraceae, one phylotype from Claroideoglomeraceae, two phylotypes from Paraglomeraceae, and one unidentified phylotype. The AMF phylotype compositions in the soils were similar between the two surveyed sites, but there was a clear discrepancy between the communities obtained from root and soil. The relatively high number of AMF phylotypes at the surveyed sites suggests that the conditions are suitable for some species of AMF and that they may have an important function in conventional rice cultivation systems. The species richness of root-colonizing AMF increased with the growth of rice, and future studies should consider the developmental stages of this crop in the exploration of AMF function in paddy wetlands.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Zinc and Nickel Uptake from Contaminated Soil by Soybean and Lentil

Generally, soils in Pakistan are deficient in P and N. Due to intensive cropping and irrigation, Pakistani soils have also become deficient in micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic associations with roots of most land plants, are known to enhance uptake of P and trace elements such as Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in uptake of nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) by crops viz. soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic). Zn and Ni were applied as ZnSO₄ 7H₂O and NiCl₂ respectively, in four concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 g kg^-1 soil). AM inoculum consisted of sand containing sporocarps, spores, and AMF infected root pieces from a pot culture of Glomus mosseae. Control plants received pot culture filtrate containing soil microflora minus AM fungal propagules. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the dry weights of roots and shoots of the mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) cereal plants. The sievate-amended treatments did not stimulate plant growth to the same extent as the AM fungal amended treatments. Trace metals inhibited the extent of mycorrhizal colonization of the cereal roots. The concentrations of the trace metals in the plant tissues of 12-week old cereal plants were found significantly (p < 0.05) higher in M than NM plants. These results indicate that mycorrhize can be used as effective tools to supply sufficient Zn in generally Zn-deficient Pakistani soils and to ameliorate the toxicity of trace metals in polluted soils. The contents of Ni in mycorrhizal soybean plant tissues were higher than those in the mycorrhizal lentil plant tissues. The implications of these results in mycorrhizo remediation of agricultural soils are discussed.     

柑橘园土壤中丛枝菌根真菌土著菌株的促生效应研究

柑橘对丛枝菌根(AM)真菌具有较高的依赖性,从柑橘园土壤中分离筛选的高效促生AM真菌菌株具有重要的应用价值。本研究从广东增城柑橘园(酸橘砧‘红江橙’)土壤中分离的4个AM真菌土著菌株对‘红江橙’幼苗的促生效应。结果表明,4个土著菌株分别是Scutellospora属和Glomus属菌株,根系侵染率为12.7%～29.3%;与不接种对照相比,4个土著菌株不同程度地促进‘红江橙’幼苗的株高、生物量和N、P、K养分含量,菌根依赖性达9.4%～37.1%;主成分分析表明,土著菌株ZCSP-D的促生效应达到常用优良菌株Rhizophagus irregularis的水平。     

土壤铅和锌对植物根际丛枝菌根真菌分布的影响

从秦岭凤县铅锌污染区4种植物根际共鉴定出球囊霉属(Glomus)丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal ungi,AMF)12种,其中缩球囊霉(G.constrictum)是该区域的优势种;缩球囊霉、副冠球囊霉(G.coronatum)、苏格兰球囊霉(G.caledonium)和聚丛球囊霉(G.aggregatum)对铅锌污染具有较强的耐性,而地球囊霉(G.geospo-rum)、台湾球囊霉(G.formosanum)、地表球囊霉(G.versiforme)和两型球囊霉(G.dimorphicum)对铅锌污染的耐性较弱.相关分析表明,土壤Pb、Zn、速效P浓度和pH较低时,对AMF丰度有一定的促进作用,当Pb、Zn、速效P浓度和pH较高时,对AMF丰度为抑制作用,AMF丰度与高浓度Pb呈极显著负相关,与高浓度速效P呈显著负相关.通径分析表明,Pb是影响秦岭重金属污染区AMF丰度的主要因素,其直接和间接作用都较大,而pH、速效P和Zn主要通过Pb的间接作用来影响AMF丰度.     

Activation of Symbiosis Signaling by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Legumes and Rice

Establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions involves plant recognition of diffusible signals from the fungus, including lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and chitooligosaccharides (COs). Nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria that associate with leguminous plants also signal to their hosts via LCOs, the so-called Nod factors. Here, we have assessed the induction of symbiotic signaling by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (Myc) fungal-produced LCOs and COs in legumes and rice (Oryza sativa). We show that Myc-LCOs and tetra-acetyl chitotetraose (CO4) activate the common symbiosis signaling pathway, with resultant calcium oscillations in root epidermal cells of Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus. The nature of the calcium oscillations is similar for LCOs produced by rhizobial bacteria and by mycorrhizal fungi; however, Myc-LCOs activate distinct gene expression. Calcium oscillations were activated in rice atrichoblasts by CO4, but not the Myc-LCOs, whereas a mix of CO4 and Myc-LCOs activated calcium oscillations in rice trichoblasts. In contrast, stimulation of lateral root emergence occurred following treatment with Myc-LCOs, but not CO4, in M. truncatula, whereas both Myc-LCOs and CO4 were active in rice. Our work indicates that legumes and non-legumes differ in their perception of Myc-LCO and CO signals, suggesting that different plant species respond to different components in the mix of signals produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.     

Progress and Challenges in Agricultural Applications of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhiza is a widespread interaction between plant roots and mutualistic fungi that both promotes plant mineral nutrition and supports stability in many natural ecosystems. Given the demand in current agriculture for these ecosystem services, it appears desirable to further integrate this interaction in current management schemes. While two different approaches can be identified in this regard, a number of problems have limited the agricultural application of mycorrhiza to date. In this review, the sensitivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to certain agricultural management methods, the functional variability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and the variability of plant responsiveness will be discussed in particular. In addition we will focus on recent advances in the study of mycorrhiza in natural ecosystems, and illustrate how such knowledge might be used to further the integration of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agricultural regimes, and so increase the sustainability and robustness of current practice.