High-throughput Sequencing Analysis of the Rhizosphere Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community Composition Associated with Ferula Sinkiangensis

Abstract

Background: Ferula sinkiangensis is an important and increasingly endangered medicinal plant. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) are microbes that live in the soil and can enhance nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and pathogen defens in host plants. The composition of AMF communities associated with Ferula sinkiangensis and the relationship between these fungi and other pertinent abiotic factors, however, remains uncertain. Herein, we collected samples of rhizosphere and surrounding soil at a range of depths (0-20, 20-40, and 40-60 cm) and a range of slop positions (bottom, middle, top). These samples were then subjected to analyses of soil physicochemical properties and high-throughput sequencing (Illumina MiSeq), enabling us to examine AMF community composition and diversity, as well as the relationship between these parameters and other abiotic factors. Results: Through this analysis, we determined that Glomus and Diversispora were enriched in all samples. AMF diversity and richness varied significantly as a function of slope position, with this variation primarily being tied to differences in Glomus and Diversispora abundance. In contrast, no significant relationship between soil depth and overall AMF composition was noted, although some AMF were found to be sensitive to depth. Many factors were found to significantly affect AMF community composition, including organic matter (OM), TN (total nitrogen), TK (total potassium), AN (ammonium nitrogen), NN (nitrate nitrogen), AK (available potassium), TDS (total soluble salt), pH, SM (soil water content), and AE (slope position). We further found that Shannon diversity index values in these communities were positively correlated with TP (total phosphorus), NN, and pH values (p<0.05), while TP, TDS, and pH were positively correlated with Chao1 values (p<0.05). Conclusion: In summary, these findings reveal that Glomus and Diversispora are key AMF genera found within the rhizosphere soil of Ferula sinkiangensis. These fungi are closely associated with specific environmental and soil physicochemical properties. And The physical and chemical properties of soil were significantly different (p<0.05) because of slope position. Together, our results provide a novel understanding of the relationship between AMF species and Ferula sinkiangensis, providing a theoretical basis for further studies of their development.