Illumina MiSeq sequencing reveals high arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in the rhizosphere soil of Prunus africana trees in fragmented Afromontane forests

Abstract

Purpose Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in the phytochemical modulation of medicinal plant species, besides their ecological role in shaping plant communities. Knowledge about the diversity and structure of AMF species associated with the endangered Prunus africana is valuable in the conservation and domestication of the species for its medicinal products. Methods Thus, we investigated the diversity and structure of AMF species communities in the rhizosphere soils of P. africana trees occurring in four fragmented Afromontane forests found in Cameroon; (Mount Cameroon and Mount Manengouba) and Kenya (Chuka and Malava) using Illumina Miseq of 18S rRNA gene amplicons. Results The forward and the reverse reads were A total of 64 virtual taxa (VT) belonging to eight genera were detected, namely Glomus (43 VT), Claroideoglomus (6 VT), Paraglomus (5 VT), Acaulospora (4 VT), Diversispora (3 VT), and Archaeospora, Pacispora, and Scutellospora with 1 VT each. Scutellospora heterogama VTX00286 was the most abundant and common species in all four sites (49.62%). Glomeraceae and Gigasporaceae were the most abundant families found across the sites, while Acaulosporaceae, Pacisporaceae, and Archaeosporaceae were rare, represented by <1% of all the detected taxa. Conclusion Our data show a high diversity of AMF species associated with P. africana, and variable community structure partially shaped by local edaphic factors. This study provides preliminary information on the possibility of using indigenous AMF inoculum, for the cultivation and domestication of P. africana for the sustainable management of this important medicinal plant.