Understanding the dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) in response to land use change is crucial for the restoration of degraded forests. Here, we describe the diversity and structure of AMF communities in roots of Pterocarpus tinctorius sampled from aluminium-and ironrich agricultural and forest fallow soils. AMF in root samples were identi ed by sequencing the large subunit region of the rRNA gene. A total of 30 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were recovered, most of which were new to science. These OTUs belonged to ve genera namely Rhizophagus, Dominikia, Glomus, Sclerocystis and Scutellospora. AMF species richness was signi cantly in uenced by soil properties and tree density, with a low mean value (3.2) observed in acidic soils with high Al and Fe. Indicator species analyses revealed nine AMF OTUs as indicators of base saturation (4 OTUs), high aluminium (3 OTUs) and iron (2 OTUs). OTUs positively correlated with acidity (1 OTU), iron and available phosphorus (2 OTUs) were assigned to the genus Rhizophagus, and indicated Al and Fe tolerance. The results show that leguminous trees in tropical dry forests are a potential reservoir of unknown AM fungal species. The baseline data obtained in this study opens new avenues for future studies, including the use of indigenous AMF-based biostimulants to implement ecological revegetation programs and improve land use.
Aboveground biodiversity and physicochemical properties influence soil microbial communities. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key members of these microbial communities and play a key role in regulating ecosystem processes. However, the mutual interdependence of plants and AMF in threatened forests is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plant ecological indicators and soil mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP) in the Miombo forest fallow of Haut-Katanga, DRC, and identified plant species that positively influence soil MIP. We conducted a floristic inventory on 32 plots and collected soil cores for physicochemical and AMF characterization. An AMF bioassay using Crotalaria juncea seedlings was performed to determine the soil MIP. We also tested the AMF colonization status of randomly collected living roots of mature woody and dominant herbaceous species to identify explanatory variables for MIP. Our results showed that MIP was higher in silty clay soils (63.13%) than in clay soils (30%) (F = 57.07; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, MIP increased accordingly with the relative abundance of a group of woody and herbaceous species (e.g. Albizia adianthifolia, Baphia bequaertii and Setaria pumila) and decreased with others (e.g. Combretum collinum, Harungana madagascariensis and Hyparrhenia diplandra). Linear regressions showed that MIP increased significantly with the specific richness of woody species identified as indicators and with the amount of annual herbs. Woody legumes with high root colonization by AMF appeared to be refuge plants, and primary AMF dispersal vectors, increasing soil MIP. This study provides baseline data that can be used to formulate ecological restoration strategies, including soil and vegetation protection.
Understanding the dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) in response to land use change is crucial for the restoration of degraded forests. Here, we describe the diversity and structure of AMF communities in roots of Pterocarpus tinctorius sampled from aluminium- and iron-rich agricultural and forest fallow soils. AMF in root samples were identified by sequencing the large subunit region of the rRNA gene. A total of 30 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were recovered, most of which were new to science. These OTUs belonged to five genera namely Rhizophagus, Dominikia, Glomus, Sclerocystis and Scutellospora. AMF species richness was significantly influenced by soil properties and tree density, with a low mean value (3.2) observed in acidic soils with high Al and Fe. Indicator species analyses revealed nine AMF OTUs as indicators of base saturation (4 OTUs), high aluminium (3 OTUs) and iron (2 OTUs). OTUs positively correlated with acidity (1 OTU), iron and available phosphorus (2 OTUs) were assigned to the genus Rhizophagus, and indicated Al and Fe tolerance. The results show that leguminous trees in tropical dry forests are a potential reservoir of unknown AM fungal species. The baseline data obtained in this study opens new avenues for future studies, including the use of indigenous AMF-based biostimulants to implement ecological revegetation programs and improve land use.
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