Colonization and Spore Richness of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Araucaria Nursery Seedlings in Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

Araucaria or Paraná pine [Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze, 1898] is an endangered timber tree species of Atlantic Forest that naturally forms symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate AMF colonization and spore AMF richness in araucaria seedlings produced in nursery at the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Brazil, with the interest of identifying a taxonomical AMF group. For that, soil and fine roots of 6-month-, 1-year-, 2-year-, 3-year-, and 5-year-old araucaria seedlings were sampled and evaluated. Evaluations indicated that araucaria seedlings were well colonized by AMF (with rates varying from almost 50 to over 85%) and produced an abundant number of mycorrhizal spores (from 344 to 676 spores per seedling). Samples contained spores of the species Acaulospora scrobiculata, Dentiscutata heterogama, and Glomus spinuliferum and unidentified species of genera Gigaspora and Glomus. The Glomus genus was the most abundant kind of AMF spores found under nursery conditions. Therefore, the experiment evidenced that Glomus is a promising genus candidate for being used as AMF inoculant in production of araucaria seedlings.

Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Forest Ecosystems of Brazil: A Review

“…AMF diversity can be lower and more homogeneous in fertile soils having high N/P ratio (Kikvidze et al, 2010). However, plant roots and AMF development adjust physiologically and morphologically according to the availability of P (Ushio et al, 2015, Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018. In addition, soil pH also plays a significant role in the AMF community by altering the diversity of AMF (Kawahara et al, 2016, Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018 probably by changes in availability of Al, Fe and Mn.…”

“…However, plant roots and AMF development adjust physiologically and morphologically according to the availability of P (Ushio et al, 2015, Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018. In addition, soil pH also plays a significant role in the AMF community by altering the diversity of AMF (Kawahara et al, 2016, Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018 probably by changes in availability of Al, Fe and Mn. Excess of these elements also changes the AMF community favoring the adapted AMF in the region (Silva et al, 2005).…”

“…In fact, the AMF morphotype to be employed as AMF inoculant should be effective to promote plant growth, increase the plant tolerance to environmental stresses, but they need to be competitive against indigenous AMF species (e.g. Séry et al, 2016;Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018). In spite of several experiments, it remains unresolved which of the AMF species that would be the most appropriated to be employed as AMF inoculant in many forest species (e.g.…”

“…In spite of several experiments, it remains unresolved which of the AMF species that would be the most appropriated to be employed as AMF inoculant in many forest species (e.g. Vilcatoma-Medina et al, 2018). Knowledge on which AMF species are dominating a forest ecosystem may help target better strategies of AMF selection, production and inoculation with potential beneficial returns to the ecosystem.…”

Evaluación de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA) en la rehabilitación ecológica de ecosistemas con actividad minera

“…La diversidad de los HMA puede ser menor y más homogénea en suelos fértiles que tienen una alta relación nitrógeno/ fósforo. Sin embargo, las raíces de las plantas y el desarrollo de los HMA se ajustan principalmente a la disponibilidad de P (Ushio et al 2015;Vilcatoma-Medina et al 2018).…”