High-Throughput Sequencing Provides Insight into Soil Fungal Community Structure and Diversity in Plant Protected Areas of Songkhla Zoo in Southern Thailand

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the agricultural fi eld has had negative impacts on soil ecological functions. Soil fungi play an important role in nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil functions in terrestrial ecosystems. However, our understanding of soil fungal communities and the interaction among microbial taxa in plant protected areas is still limited. This study applied high-throughput sequencing in an investigation of fungal communities and their diversity within the plant protected areas of Songkhla zoo in Southern Thailand. The sampling sites fell into three zones: zone I (dry evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and agricultural fi eld); zone II (evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest); and zone III (evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and rubber tree crop). Soil samples were collected from each zone and subjected to physicochemical tests. Total DNA was extracted from soil samples, and we analyzed the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of the rDNA gene of the fungi by Illumina Miseq sequencing to assess the fungal communities. The soil parameters revealed that the total calcium (Ca), manganese (Mg) and potassium (K) in zone III were signifi cantly higher than in the other zones. A total of 637, 702 and 745 OTUs were observed from zone I, zone II and zone III samples, respectively, with 143 OTUs common across all sampling sites. The fungal communities were signifi cantly different between the sampling sites. Zone III had the highest levels of community richness and diversity, followed by zone II and zone I. The dominant genera in zones I, II and III were Beauveria, Staphylotrichum and Trichoderma, respectively. Furthermore, the high concentration of K, Ca and Mg affected the fungal communities and diversity in the plant protected areas in Songkhla zoo. Our fi ndings provide insights into the importance of soil fungi, and this study identifi ed key differences in the fungal communities in the plant protected areas in Songkhla zoo.

Biological Control Activities of Rhizosphere Fungus Trichoderma virens T1-02 in Suppressing Flower Blight of Flamingo Flower (Anthurium andraeanum Lind.)

“…A total of ten Trichoderma strains-K1-01, K2-02, K3-01, T1-02, T3-01, Z1-01, Z1-02, Z2-02, SP1-01, and SP2-02-had been isolated from rhizosphere soil of Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in a plant-protected area in Songkhla province, southern Thailand using a soil dilution pour plate in a previous study [6] and deposited in the Culture Collection of the Pest Management Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. The flower blight pathogen N. clavispora strain PSU-AAN2 was isolated from the flamingo flower in Thailand [23].…”

“…Filamentous fungi of the genus Trichoderma are known as common rhizosphere inhabitants [6]. Trichoderma species can produce a mass of conidia for asexual reproductive propagules [7].…”

Development of a Novel Emulsion Formulation of Trichoderma asperelloides PSU-P1 Conidia against Stem Canker on Dragon Fruit Caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum

“…Trichoderma species are commonly found in soil and are endophytic fungi which play an important role in ecosystems by degrading plant biomass, restricting plant pathogens, and promoting plant growth [1][2][3]. The main mechanisms of Trichoderma species are antibiosis, competition, induction of plant resistance, parasitism, and the promotion of plant growth [4].…”

A Rhizobacterium, Streptomyces albulus Z1-04-02, Displays Antifungal Activity against Sclerotium Rot in Mungbean

“…Rhizosphere soil is an important source of beneficial microorganisms, especially rhizosphere microorganisms, which have been studied for their beneficial effects on plant growth and their roles as biocontrol agents [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Actinobacteria are fungal-like microorganisms of the order Actinomycetales.…”