In the past few decades, it has been widely accepted that forest loss due to human actions alter the interactions between organisms. We studied the relationship between forest fragment size and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) colonization, and the AMF spore communities in the rhizosphere of two congeneric Euphorbia species (native and exotic/invasive). We hypothesized that these fungal variables will differ with fragment size and species status, and predicted that (a) AMF and DSE colonization together with AMF spore abundance and diversity would be positively related to forest fragment size; (b) these relationships will differ between the exotic and the native species; and (c) there will be a negative relationship between forest fragment size and the availability of soil nutrients (NH 4 ? , NO 3 -, and phosphorus). This study was performed in the eight randomly selected forest fragments (0.86-1000 ha), immersed in an agricultural matrix from the Chaquean region in central Argentina. AMF root colonization in the native and exotic species was similar, and was positively related with forest fragment size. Likewise, AMF spore diversity and spore abundance were higher in the larger fragments. While DSE root colonization in the native host was positively related with forest fragment size, DSE colonization in the exotic host showed no relationship. Soil nutrients contents were negatively related with forest fragment size. In addition, NH 4 ? and NO 3 -were negatively correlated with AMF spores abundance and root colonization and with DSE colonization in the native species. The results observed in this study show how habitat fragmentation might affect the interaction between key soil components, such as rhizospheric plant-fungal symbiosis and nutrient availability. These environmental changes may have important consequences on plant community composition and nutrient dynamics in this fragmented landscape.
The great majority of plants gain access to soil nutrients and enhance their performance under stressful conditions through symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The benefits that AMF confer vary among species and taxonomic groups. However, a comparative analysis of the different benefits among AMF has not yet been performed.We conducted a global meta-analysis of recent studies testing the benefits of individual AMF species and main taxonomic groups in terms of plant performance (growth and nutrition). Separately, we examined AMF benefits to plants facing biotic (pathogens, parasites, and herbivores) and abiotic (drought, salinity, and heavy metals) stress.AMF had stronger positive effects on phosphorus nutrition than on plant growth and nitrogen nutrition and the effects on the growth of plants facing biotic and abiotic stresses were similarly positive. While the AMF taxonomic groups showed positive effects on plant performance either with or without stress, Diversisporales were the most beneficial to plants without stress and Gigasporales to plants facing biotic stress.Our results provide a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of different AMF species and taxonomic groups on plant performance and useful insights for their management and use as bio-inoculants for agriculture and restoration.
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