Mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi under the canopies of desert plants in Mu Us Sandy Land of China

Abstract

Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and spore density was investigated in 20 desert plants (dominant or common species) collected from different locations of Mu Us Sandy Land of China. We observed three mycorrhizal types including Arum-type,Paris-type, and an intermediate type among the plants. Another type of potentially beneficial fungi associated with roots of all species was also observed, namely, dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEF). Of the 20 sample plants examined, all species were coinfected by the two target fungi (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of Salix psammophila and DSEF colonization of Periploca sepium were as low as 4%). Based on this investigation, we speculated that the DSEF are ubiquitous in desert ecosystems and can co-occur with AMF in desert plants, functioning much like mycorrhizal fungi. Further studies will be required to elucidate interactional mechanisms with AMF and the mechanisms operating in desert ecosystem.

Keywords

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi / mycorrhiza type / root endophytic fungi / desert plants

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40471075 and 30670371).

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