Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Brazil's Caatinga and experimental agroecosystems

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a nutritious legume crop for both its grain and leaves and comprises an important component in both human and animal nutrition. In Brazil, the use of mulch, such as coconut fiber, and organic fertilizers to maximize cowpea production offers an alternative to conventional mineral fertilizer strategies. Farming practices affect the diversity and activity of soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), important plant growth promoters for legumes. Our objective was to determine the effect of mulching with coconut fiber and manure on AMF diversity in cowpea. Soil samples were collected from an Experimental Station in Petrolina, NE Brazil: one Caatinga (natural dry‐forest vegetation), one fallow, and one experimental site established in the fallow area and cultivated with cowpea receiving cattle manure and four doses (0, 12, 24, 48 t/ha) of coconut fiber. AMF species richness, abundance, and diversity were evaluated. Sixty‐four AMF species were recorded, with predominance of Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae. Highest species richness (47) was recovered from the Caatinga but AMF diversity was also high in the cultivated sites, demonstrating the importance of mycotrophic plants, such as cowpea, in crop production systems for the maintenance of AMF species richness. Although several species, such as Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Acaulospora scrobiculata, Glomus trufemii, and Paraglomus pernambucanum, revealed pronounced sporulation patterns, even high doses of coconut fiber did not affect AMF richness and diversity, compared to fallow. Consequently, cultivation of mycotrophic plants and use of organic manures are able to maintain high AMF species richness in tropical agroecosystems.

Succession stages and soil attributes influence the structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities in the Atlantic Forest

“…Among the most frequent species found in the studied areas, Glomus macrocarpum has cosmopolitan distribution (Stürmer et al 2018), occurring in successional environments, under different land uses and agrosystems (Pereira et al 2014;Sousa et al 2014;Pontes et al 2017;Reyes et al 2019). Glomus brohultii has been commonly…”

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and coconut coir dust application enhance the production of foliar secondary metabolites in Passiflora cincinnata Mast. seedlings

“…Even though the colonization rate of the plants cultivated in substrates containing coconut coir dust was reduced in comparison to those cultivated without organic application, A. longula was effective in maximizing the production of foliar compounds in P. cincinnata . On the other hand, Pontes et al 41 verified that the higher proportions of coconut coir dust did not negatively influence the AMF community in Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.…”

“…With similar results, Silva and Silva 5 reported a reduction in the concentration of proteins in seedlings of Punica granatum L. inoculated with G. albida and cultivated in substrate containing vermicompost, demonstrating how an increase in the production of primary metabolites does not always favor the concentration of phenolic compounds.Even though the colonization rate of the plants cultivated in substrates containing coconut coir dust was reduced in comparison to those cultivated without organic application, A. longula was effective in maximizing the production of foliar compounds in P. cincinnata. On the other hand, Pontes et al41 verified that the higher proportions of T A B L E 5 Pearson correlation (r) between primary and secondary metabolites, growth parameters, mycorrhizal colonization, and glomalin-related soil proteins(GRSP) of Passiflora cincinnata Mast. seedlings inoculated or not with Acaulospora longula Spain and N.C. Schenck and Gigaspora albida N.C. Schenck and G.S.…”

Richness of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Brazilian Tropical Shallow Lake: Assessing an Unexpected Assembly in the Aquatic-Terrestrial Gradient

“…A study from another environment carried out on five habitats of high-altitude (Brazilian rupestrian fields) reported 49 AMF species in total, with a variation of 19 to 33 species per habitat [89]. In a semiarid habitat from Northwest Brazil 47 AMF species occurred on six sites (natural and agricultural), where the richness ranged from 25 to 44 species per site [90]. On the other hand, coastal dune vegetations in other countries harbor a limited species richness of 31, 20, 14 and 7 subjected to different conditions [91][92][93][94], even using high-throughput sequencing technology in sand dunes of Australia and New Zealand, Hanlon [95] detected 16 species belong to five genera, and Johansen et al [96] detected 22 species in seven genera, respectively.…”