The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Agro- and Natural Ecosystems

2000 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Dodd

Symbionts called ‘mycorrhizal fungi’ occur in most biomes on earth, and are a fundamental reason for plant growth and development on the planet. The most common group of mycorrhizal fungi is that of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which colonize the roots of over 80% of land plant families, but they cannot as yet be cultured away from the host plant. AMF are primarily responsible for nutrient transfer from soil to plant, but have other roles such as soil aggregation, protection of plants against drought stress and soil pathogens, and increasing plant diversity. This is achieved by the growth of their fungal mycelium within a host root and out into the soil beyond. There is an urgent need to study the below-ground microbiology of soils in agro-and natural ecosystems, as AMF are pivotal in closing nutrient cycles and have a proven multifunctional role in soil–plant interactions. More information is also needed on the biodiversity and functional diversity of these microbes and their interactions with crops and plants.

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janusz Błaszkowski ◽  
Iwona Adamska ◽  
Beata Czerniawska

The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of the, phylum <i>Glomeromycota</i> associated with plants of maritime sand dunes of the Vistula Bar localed in north-eastern Poland was investigated. The presence of AMF was revealed based on spores isolated from field-collected root-rhizosphere soil mixtures and two-cycle pot trap cultures established with parts of these mixtures. The mixtures came from under five species in four plant families. Spores of AMF occurred in 54.8% of the field samples and belonged to eight species. Additionally, culturing of root-soil mixtures in trap cultures revealed nine species and three undescribed morphotypes carlier not found in the field samples. Considering the number of records of species and morphotypes in the field samples and trap cultures, the fungal species most frequently occurring in dunes of the Vistula Bar is <i>Scutellospora dipurpurescens</i>, followed by <i>Archaeospora trappei, Glomus laccatum</i>, and <i>Scu. armeniaca</i>. The overall average spore abundance in the field samples is low (4.48, range O-3l in 100g dry soil). The ovcrall average species richness determined based on spores from both the field and trap cultures was 2 l and ranged from 0 lo 7 in 100g dry soil. The plant harbouring the highest number of species of AMF was <i>Festuca rubra</i>. Of the maritime dune sites of Poland examined to date, the species composition of AMF of the Vistula Bar is most similar to that of the Słowiński National Park. When the comparisons included 15 maritime dune areas located outside Poland, the highest similarity occurred in the Vistula Bar/Canada comparison.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Kobae ◽  
Ryo Ohtomo ◽  
Sho Morimoto ◽  
Daiki Sato ◽  
Tomomi Nakagawa ◽  
...  

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a group of soil microorganisms that establish symbioses with most land plant species. “Root trap culture” generally has been used for isolating a single regenerated spore in order to establish a monospecific, native AMF line. Roots may be co-colonized with multiple AMF species; however, only a small portion of AMF within roots sporulate, and do so only under certain conditions. In this study, we tested whether young thalli (<2 mm) of the liverwort Marchantia paleacea harbour monospecific AMF, and can be used as a vegetative inoculant line. When M. paleacea gemmae were co-cultivated with roots obtained from the field, the young thalli were infected by AMF via rhizoids and formed arbuscules after 18 days post-sowing. Ribosomal DNA sequencing of the AMF-colonized thalli (mycothalli) revealed that they harboured phylogenetically diverse AMF; however, new gemmae sown around transplanted mycothalli showed evidence of colonization from phylogenetically uniform Rhizophagus species. Of note, mycothalli can also be used as an inoculum. These results suggest that the young thalli of M. paleacea can potentially isolate monospecific AMF from field soil in a spore-independent manner.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1284-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jeffries

The term mycoparasitism applies strictly to those relationships in which one living fungus acts as a nutrient source for another, but fungicolous relationships may also be included in which nutrient exchange has not been shown. Fungicolous fungi have a constant but indeterminate association with another fungus, and it can be difficult to demonstrate a true parasitic relationship. Mycoparasitic relationships can be necrotrophic or biotrophic, and can be classified on the basis of the host–parasite interface as contact necrotrophs, invasive necrotrophs, haustorial biotrophs, intracellular biotrophs, or fusion biotrophs depending on the intimacy of the relationship. In natural ecosystems, it is proposed that mycoparasitic relationships play an important role in the development of fungal communities. Two specific examples have been chosen to illustrate the general principles of mycoparasitism: the necrotrophic invasion of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the biotrophic invasion of mucoralean hosts by haustorial mycoparasites. Key words: mycoparasitism, fungicolous fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, fungal ecology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-228
Author(s):  
Herath BMMD ◽  
Madushan KWA ◽  
Lakmali JPD ◽  
Yapa PN

Human activities have introduced large amounts of heavy metals into natural ecosystems in recent years. As a result, the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids in plants, animals, and humans, which may have caused some health problems. Chemical and physical methods can remove the heavy metal in contaminated soil, but both are very expensive and ineffective. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are mutualistic symbionts in most plant roots. Furthermore, AMF are the essential mycorrhizae for phytoremediation, and the extensive hyphal network of them can increase the uptake of micro and macronutrients, water and heavy metals from the soil. However, AMF hyphae colonized in plant roots have an ability for compartmentalizing heavy metals inside plant roots. Furthermore, AMF hyphae are capable of secreting a glycoprotein, named glomalin, which can bind heavy metals and subsequently remove heavy metals absorbed by the plants from contaminated soil. Glomalin can develop the properties and structure of the soil, which helps to enhance soil fertility. This paper presents the role of AMF in the ecosystems and as potential tools for bioremediation of heavy metals in the soil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Unger ◽  
Franziska M. Habermann ◽  
Katarina Schenke ◽  
Marjan Jongen

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may affect competitive plant interactions, which are considered a prevalent force in shaping plant communities. Aiming at understanding the role of AMF in the competition between two pasture species and its dependence on soil nutritional status, a pot experiment with mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Lolium multiflorum and Trifolium subterraneum was conducted, with manipulation of species composition (five levels), and nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)- fertilization (three levels). In the non-mycorrhizal state, interspecific competition did not play a major role. However, in the presence of AMF, Lolium was the strongest competitor, with this species being facilitated by Trifolium. While N-fertilization did not change the competitive balance, P-fertilization gave Lolium, a competitive advantage over Trifolium. The effect of AMF on the competitive outcome may be driven by differential C-P trade benefits, with Lolium modulating carbon investment in the mycorrhizal network and the arbuscule/vesicle ratio at the cost of Trifolium.


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 5341-5347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Trépanier ◽  
Guillaume Bécard ◽  
Peter Moutoglis ◽  
Claude Willemot ◽  
Serge Gagné ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Lipids are the major form of carbon storage in arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi. We studied fatty acid synthesis by Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora rosea. [14C]Acetate and [14C]sucrose were incorporated into a synthetic culture medium to test fatty acid synthetic ability in germinating spores (G. intraradices and G. rosea), mycorrhized carrot roots, and extraradical fungal mycelium (G. intraradices). Germinating spores and extraradical hyphae could not synthesize 16-carbon fatty acids but could elongate and desaturate fatty acids already present. The growth stimulation of germinating spores by root exudates did not stimulate fatty acid synthesis. 16-Carbon fatty acids (16:0 and 16:1) were synthesized only by the fungi in the mycorrhized roots. Our data strongly suggest that the fatty acid synthase activity of arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi is expressed exclusively in the intraradical mycelium and indicate that fatty acid metabolism may play a major role in the obligate biotrophism of arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi.


2017 ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Lucía Camargo-Ricalde

The aim of this paper is to review and assess scientific literature relevant to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) population dynamics: reproduction and dispersal mechanisms, and establishment and distribution in natural ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligated root symbionts with an extraordinary capacity for growing, dispersing and surviving, but their life history is not well understood yet. Although there is information concerning AMF dispersal, distribution and establishment, some data are still ambiguous and contradictory. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) life cycle responds to surrounding environment but even when they only reproduce asexually, their populations encompass a high genetic and functional diversity within ecosystems. Environmental disturbances create new habitats for AMF dispersal, which can take place by root to root contact, animal transport and erosion processes. These agents are the common dispersal mechanisms of AMF in nature. Distribution of AMF is influenced mainly by the environment and soil and plant communities, but the specific AMF-host plant association is thought to be secondary because the AMF must invade and colonize any host root for establishment. Thus, inoculum density, host and fungal genetic compatibility, edaphic factors and plant-microbial activity determine the formation of mycorrhizal infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 1077
Author(s):  
Xin Guo ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Yaoming Li ◽  
...  

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form symbioses with most land plants, could benefit their hosts and potentially play important roles in revegetation of degraded lands. However, their application in revegetation of desert grasslands still faces challenges and uncertainties due to the unclear specificity of AMF-plant interactions. Here, Caragana korshinskii and Caragana microphylla were inoculated with either conspecific (home) or heterospecific (away) AM fungal communities from the rhizosphere of three common plant species (C. korshinskii, C. microphylla and Hedysarum laeve) in Kubuqi Desert, China. AMF communities of the inocula and their home and away effects on growth and nutrition status of two Caragana species were examined. Results showed that AMF communities of the three inocula from C. korshinskii, H. laeve and C. microphylla were significantly different, and were characterized by high abundance of Diversispora, Archaeospora, and Glomus, respectively. The shoot biomass, photosynthetic rate, foliar N and P contents of C. korshinskii only significantly increased under home AMF inoculation by 167.10%, 73.55%, 9.24%, and 23.87%, respectively. However, no significant effects of AMF on C. microphylla growth were found, regardless of home or away AMF. Positive correlations between C. korshinskii biomass and the abundance of AMF genus Diversispora were found. Our study showed strong home advantage of using native AMF community to enhance C. korshinskii growth in the desert and presented a potentially efficient way to use native AMF in restoration practices.


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