Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strongly influence the endorhizosphere of grapevine rootstocks with soil type as a key factor

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in enhancing the health and productivity of host plants, including grapevine. By forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots, AMF significantly improve water uptake and nutrient absorption, particularly phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). This study evaluated the microbiome composition and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in the endorhizosphere across five wine-growing regions in the Czech Republic. In all five regions, in terms of composition of fungal microbiome, the phyla Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were most numerous. The study confirmed that LSU primers are more sensitive than ITS primers for AMF sequencing. While the representation of the phylum Glomeromycetes ranged from 0.07–5.65% in the ITS library, it was significantly higher, ranging from 83.74–98.71%, in the LSU library. The most significant difference compared to other regions was observed in the Slovácko region, where the soil had a lower pH, a different texture (sandy loam), reduced micronutrient content, and low organic matter. These factors resulted in only trace amounts of AMF being detected. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that AMF positively influenced the phosphorus content in the soil and reduced the presence of certain fungal pathogens.