Community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Robinia pseudoacacia in uncontaminated and heavy metal contaminated soils

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe significance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil remediation has been widely recognized because of their ability to promote plant growth and increase phytoremediation efficiency in heavy metal (HM) polluted soils by improving plant nutrient absorption and by influencing the fate of the metals in the plant and soil. However, the symbiotic functions of AMF in remediation of polluted soils depend on plantefungusesoil combinations and are greatly influenced by environmental conditions. To better understand the adaptation of plants and the related mycorrhizae to extreme environmental conditions, AMF colonization, spore density and community structure were analyzed in roots or rhizosphere soils of Robinia pseudoacacia. Mycorrhization was compared between uncontaminated soil and heavy metal contaminated soil from a leadezinc mining region of northwest China. Samples were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) screening with AMF-specific primers (NS31 and AM1), and sequencing of rRNA small subunit (SSU). The phylogenetic analysis revealed 28 AMF group types, including six AMF families: Glomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Diversisporaceae, Acaulosporaceae, Pacisporaceae, and Gigasporaceae. Of all AMF group types, six (21%) were detected based on spore samples alone, four (14%) based on root samples alone, and five (18%) based on samples from root, soil and spore. Glo9 (Rhizophagus intraradices), Glo17 (Funneliformis mosseae) and Acau3 (Acaulospora sp.) were the three most abundant AMF group types in the current study. Soil Pb and Zn concentrations, pH, organic matter content, and phosphorus levels all showed significant correlations with the AMF species compositions in root and soil samples. Overall, the uncontaminated sites had higher species diversity than sites with heavy metal contamination. The study highlights the effects of different soil chemical parameters on AMF colonization, spore density and community structure in contaminated and uncontaminated sites. The tolerant AMF species isolated and identified from this study have potential for application in phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated areas.

The molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the arsenic mining impacted sites in Hunan Province of China

“…A variety of environmental factors could influence the AMF community structure, and among them, heavy metal contaminations (Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd) have been found to be important predictors (Yang et al, 2015). In addition to As, we also found that the Cd concentrations had a significant effect on the AMF community structure (Fig.…”

Subcellular Compartmentalization and Chemical Forms of Lead Participate in Lead Tolerance of Robinia pseudoacacia L. with Funneliformis mosseae

“…Robinia pseudoacacia L. is a Pb-tolerant tree species (Yang et al, 2015c). The seeds were collected from Northwest A&F University (Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China) in 2013.…”

“…R. pseudoacacia is frequently found in HM contaminated areas and it may serve as an indicator of Pb pollution (Serbula et al, 2012). R. pseudoacacia plants are well grown and commonly colonized by AMF such as F. mosseae in the Qiandongshan lead–zinc polluted area (Yang et al, 2015b,c). Recent studies have shown that photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidases) in the leaves of R. pseudoacacia are enhanced by F. mosseae under Pb stress (Yang et al, 2015a).…”

Comparisons of Soil Properties, Enzyme Activities and Microbial Communities in Heavy Metal Contaminated Bulk and Rhizosphere Soils of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in the Northern Foot of Qinling Mountain

“…The HM polluted area had the same soil type and was divided into polluted levels of light (S1, 33 • Figure S1), according to our previous investigation and the Chinese environmental quality standard (Grade II) for soils (GB 15618-1995) [27,[29][30][31]. In August 2012, four study plots (15 × 15 m) dominated by target tree species (R. pseudoacacia) were identified at each site for soil sampling.…”