Ectomycorrhizal networks may facilitate the establishment and survival of seedlings regenerating under the canopies of tropical forests and are often invoked as a potential contributor to monodominance. We identified ectomycorrhizal fungi in a monodominant Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (Fabaceae) rain forest in Cameroon, using sporocarps and ectomycorrhizae of three age categories (seedlings, intermediate trees, and large trees) and tentatively revealed nutrient transfer through ectomycorrhizal networks by measuring spontaneous isotopic (13C and 15N) abundances in seedlings. Sporocarp surveys revealed fewer ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa (59 species from 1030 sporocarps) than molecular barcoding of ectomycorrhizal roots (75 operational taxonomic units from 828 ectomycorrhizae). Our observations suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity is similar to that in other mixed tropical forests and provide the first report of the Tuber‐Helvella lineage in a tropical forest. Despite some differences, all age categories of G. dewevrei had overlapping ectomycorrhizal fungal communities, with families belonging to Thelephoraceae, Russulaceae, Sebacinaceae, Boletaceae, and Clavulinaceae. Of the 49 operational taxonomic units shared by the three age categories (65.3% of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community), 19 were the most abundant on root tips of all categories (38.7% of the shared taxa), supporting the likelihood of ectomycorrhizal networks. However, we obtained no evidence for nutrient transfer from trees to seedlings. We discuss the composition of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community among the G. dewevrei age categories and the possible role of common ectomycorrhizal networks in this rain forest.

Piliostigma reticulatum shrub is a native legume found in fallow areas in dry and semi-dry savanna soil and is used in intercropping systems. The aim was to understand the functioning of the rhizosphere, particularly the involvement of symbiotic and free living-N fixing bacteria. Soil extracts collected from P. reticulatum roots were sampled in two contrasting areas and endophytic bacterial communities were isolated using three trap host species (F. albida, A. bivenosa and V. seyal). Potential endophytic bacteria (PEB) were characterized by RFLP, nifH PCR and by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The subsequent behavior of P. reticulatum was monitored in vitro by measuring leaf weight, biomass and chlorophyll content, after inoculation with PEB. This approach enabled isolation of 59 bacteria belonging to different genotypes. The most abundant genera were Cohnella (27.65%) among which 11 isolates clustered together and could represent a new species closely related to C. plantaginis. The other dominant genera were Paenibacillus (21.27%), Bradyrhizobium (14.89%) and Ensifer (8.5%). The nitrogen fixing gene (nifH) was detected in 21 strains and in particular, detected in a single isolate (PZS_S04) close to Cohnella xylanilytica. The strains PZS_S05 (Ensifer) and PZG_A18 (Cohnella) significantly increased certain parameters including shoot dry weight, shrub height at 90 days and photosynthetic activity (SPAD), compared to non-inoculated controls.The result obtained showed that soil under the influence of P. reticulatum roots harbored a specific diversity of endophytic bacteria including two free living-N fixing bacteria with the potential to improve the growth of P. reticulatum in natural conditions.