Impact of AMF Claroideoglomus etunicatum on the structure of fungal communities in the tomato rhizosphere

Abstract

Mycorrhizal fungi influence the development and activity of communities of soil microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus <em>Claroideoglomus etunicatum</em> (W. N. Becker & Gerd.) C. Walker & Schüβler on the population structure of fungal colonies in the rhizosphere of tomatoes grown in a plastic tunnel. The field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2017 at an ecological farm in Grądy, central eastern Poland. The object of study were the three tomato cultivars: ‘Antalya F<sub>1</sub>’, ‘Esmira F<sub>1</sub>’, and ‘Pelikan F<sub>1</sub>’. Tomato seedlings were inoculated with <em>C. etunicatum</em>; spores were introduced about 5 cm deep in the rhizosphere of the studied plants (25–30 spores of <em>C. etunicatum</em> for each plant). Each year, mycological analysis of the tomato rhizosphere was conducted using Warcup’s method; structure of fungal communities of the tomato rhizosphere varied depending on the AMF applied. Saprotrophic fungi such as <em>Trichoderma</em> ssp., <em>Mucor</em> spp., and <em>Penicillium</em> spp. were often more isolated from the rhizosphere of plants inoculated with <em>C. etunicatum</em> than that of the control samples. It can be concluded that AMF directly impacted the development of fungal biodiversity in the tomato rhizosphere, particularly regarding the number of saprotrophs in the soil.

Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Irrigation on Biological Properties of Sweet Pepper Rhizosphere in Organic Field Cultivation

“…In our study, mycorrhizal inoculation and applicated irrigation had beneficial effects on the growth of fungi in the soil communities. Jamiołkowska et al [22] showed that the application of Claroideoglomus etunicatum on tomato roots contributed to an increase in the number of soil fungi, particularly regarding the number of saprotrophs in the rhizosphere. The present study also showed that irrigation (PI) increased the number of fungi in the community, but no such correlation was observed in the case of bacteria.…”

“…One of the elements of integrated plant protection is the use of nonchemical methods, including mycorrhiza. Mycorrhizal fungi (MF) influence the development and activity of soil microorganisms, especially increasing the biodiversity of rhizosphere microorganisms-particularly the number of saprotrophs, which protects plants against soil pathogens [21,22]. Root colonization by endomycorrhizal fungi causes changes in the quantity and quality of exudates produced by the roots; carbon distribution in the leaves, stems, and roots; and the level of nutrient supply to the plants [21,23] The purpose of this study was to evaluate and discuss the influence of mycorrhizal inoculation and plant irrigation on biological properties of sweet pepper rhizosphere soil in organic field cultivation.…”