The impact of biological pesticides on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have a key role for plant nutrition in organic farming systems where crop protection relies on biopesticides. Although these are considered safe, their effects on non-target organisms, such as AM fungi, are not known and should be evaluated. A pot and a field experiment were employed to investigate the impact of biological pesticides (azadirachtin, spinosad, pyrethrum and terpens) on exogenous AM fungal inoculum (pots) and on indigenous AM fungi (field). The synthetic fungicide carbendazim and non-pesticide treated controls with or without mycorrhizal inoculation were also included. Plant growth and root colonization were measured 20 and 40 days post inoculation (dpi) in the pot experiment, or 40 and 90 dpi in the field study. Pesticide effects on the structure of the intraradical AM fungal community were determined via DGGE and cloning. Spinosad, pyrethrum and terpenes did not affect the colonization ability and the structure of the AM fungal community. On the contrary, pot application of azadirachtin resulted in a selective inhibition of the Glomus etunicatum strain of the inoculum. DGGE analysis showed that the field application of azadirachtin induced significant and persistent shifts in the AM fungal community. Carbendazim completely hampered mycorrhizal colonization in pots, compared to its field application which had a transitory effect on the colonization ability and the community structure of indigenous AM fungi. Our study provides first evidence for the effects of biological pesticides on the diversity of AM fungi. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Application of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum in greenhouse soil with manure induced salinity for organic pepper production

In this study, the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus − AMF Rhizophagus intraradices inoculum (prior or with transplanting) to different pepper type (Capsicum annuum L.) cv. Arlequin F1 (long fruits) and Raiko F1 (bell pepper), on plant growth and physiological parameters in response to elevated soil P concentrations from organic greenhouse production with enhanced soil salinity, was investigated. To explain the physiological growth of mycorrhizal inoculated (M) and non-mycorrhizal inoculated (NM) plants, the parameters of fungal root length colonization, shoot concentration of P an N during growth, plant height, width of stem, yield, number of fruit per plant and also the quality parameters of fruits such as soluble solid content (SSC), fruit color, mineral profile, total soluble phenolics (TSP) and antioxidant activity (FRAP), were determined. This study showed that application of AMF in cv. Raiko cultivated in high P saline soil generally enhanced growth, fruit yield and number of fruits per plant when inoculated at planting time in the greenhouse. AM inoculated plants, regardless of the time of application in cv. Arlequin grown under the same conditions, did not have any significant differences in comparison with NM plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation has great potential in enhancing the pepper growth and yield even in high soil P, however, because of the complexity and interaction of involved genotypes of pepper and AMF, the method and time of inoculation, the system of pepper production and environmental conditions, as well as assays have to be performed to verify positive effects

Essential oil content and composition, nutrient and mycorrhizal status of some aromatic and medicinal plants of Northern Greece

A field survey was conducted in three northern Greek mountain areas (Chortiatis, Ossa, and Pieria) to investigate the mycorrhizal and nutritional status, and the essential oil content and composition of common medicinal and aromatic plants. A range of values for nutrient status and essential oil contents and composition was established. All plants were found to be mycorrhizal, including Achillea coarctata Poir., Micromeria juliana (L.) Bentham ex Reichenb., and Salvia sclarea L.;. these three are reported as being mycorrhizal for the first time. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization was highest in Pieria, exceeding 80% for all 15 plants sampled, and lower in Chortiatis and Ossa

Effects of soil application of olive mill wastewaters on the structure and function of the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Recycling of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) into agricultural soils is a controversial issue since benefits to soil fertility should counterbalance potential short-term toxicity effects. We investigated the short-term effects of OMW on the soil-plant system, regarding the diversity, structure and root colonization capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the respective growth response of Vicia faba L, commonly used as green manure in olive-tree plantations. A compartmentalized pot system was used that allowed the establishment of an AM fungal community in one compartment (feeder) and the application of three OMW dose levels in an adjacent second compartment (receiver). At 0, 10, and 30 days after OMW treatment (DAT), V. faba pre-germinated seeds were seeded in the receiver compartment. At harvest, shoot and root dry weights, AM fungal root colonization, soil hyphal length and P availability were recorded in the receiver compartment. In addition, OMW effects on AM fungal diversity in plant roots were studied by DGGE. A transient effect of OMW application was observed; plant growth and AM fungal colonization were initially inhibited, whereas soil hyphal length was stimulated, but in most cases differences were absent when seeding was performed 30 DAT. Similarly, changes induced in the structure of the root AM fungal community were of transient nature. Cloning and sequencing of all the major DGGE bands showed that roots were colonized by Glomus spp. The transient effects of OMW on the structure and function of AM fungi could be attributed to OMW-derived phytoxicity to V. faba plants or to an indirect effect via alteration of soil nutritional status. The high OMW dose significantly increased soil P availability in the presence of AM fungi, suggesting efficient involvement of AM fungi in organic-P minerilization. Overall our results indicate that soil application of OMW would cause transient changes in the AM fungal colonization of V. faba plants, which, would not impair their long-term plant growth promoting ability. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Greek tulips: Worldwide electronic trade over the internet, global ex situ conservation and current sustainable exploitation challenges

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the “botanical tulips”; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project’s scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Effects of nicosulfuron on the abundance and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi used as indicators of pesticide soil microbial toxicity

The key role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in maintaining soil fertility and ecosystem functioning and their general sensitivity to pesticides make them good candidate bioindicators in pesticide soil microbial toxicity assessment. We investigated the impact of the herbicide nicosulfuron on mycorrhizal colonization and community structure of AM fungi via a pot-to-field experimental approach. This allowed the assessment of nicosulfuron toxicity (i) at extreme exposure schemes (pot experiment, Tier I) invoked by the repeated application of a range of dose rates (x0, x10, x100, x1000 the recommended dose) and (ii) under realistic exposure scenarios (x0, x1, x2, x5 the recommended dose) in the field (Tier II). In the pot experiment, the x100 and x1000 dose rates significantly reduced plant biomass, mycorrhizal colonization and AM fungal richness as determined by DGGE. This coincided with the progressive accumulation of herbicide concentrations in soil. In contrast, no effects on AM fungi were observed at the nicosulfuron dose rates tested in the field. Clone libraries showed that the majority of AM fungi belonged to the Glomus group and were sensitive to the high levels of nicosulfuron accumulated in soil at the latter culture cycles. In contrast, a Paraglomeraceae and a Glomus etunicatum ribotype were present in maize roots in all cycles and dose rates implying a tolerance to nicosulfuron-induced stress. Overall, the deleterious effects of nicosulfuron on AM fungi induced by the highest dose rates in the pot experiment could be attributed either to fungal-driven toxicity or to plant-driven effects which have subsequent implications for mycorrhizal symbiosis. We suggest that the tiered pot-to-field experimental approach followed in our study combined with classic and standardized molecular tools could provide a realistic assessment of the toxicity of pesticides onto AM fungi as potential bioindicators. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inocula from coastal sand dunes arrest olive cutting growth under salinity stress

Cultivation of olive trees covers large coastal areas of land in Mediterranean regions, many of them characterized by low soil fertility and exposed to salinity and seasonal drought. In this frame, we developed mixed community inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) derived from the extreme, seasonally arid environments of six Mediterranean sand dunes and evaluated their effects, in the form of community inocula, on rooted semi-woody olive tree cuttings (Olea europaea cv. Koroneiki). The plantlets were grown in the greenhouse for 10 months under 50 mM and 100 mM concentrations of NaCl, successively applied to induce osmotic stress. Inoculation had a positive effect on plant growth and nutrient uptake. However, the three best-performing inocula in early colonization and in plant growth enhancement also resulted in high plant sensitivity to high salinity, which was not observed for the other three inocula. This was expressed by decreased nutrient uptake and drastically lower plant growth, plant photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance (generally an over 50% reduction compared to no salinity application). Amplicon sequencing analysis of the olive plants under salinity stress showed that the AMF communities in the roots were clearly differentiated by inoculation treatment. We could not, however, consistently associate the plant responses observed under high salinity with specific shared AMF community membership or assembly attributes. The observed physiological overreaction to osmotic stress may be an adaptation trait, potentially brought about by host selection coupled to abiotic environmental filtering, in the harsh conditions from which the AMF inocula were derived. The overreaction may, however, be undesirable if conveyed to allochthonous plants at an agronomic level. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Strong host-specific selection and over-dominance characterize arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonizers of coastal sand dune plants of the Mediterranean region

Sand dunes of the Mediterranean region constitute drought-stressed, low-fertility ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are regarded as key components of their biota, that contribute to plant host adaptation and fitness. However, AMF community assembly rules in the roots of the psammophilous plants of coastal sand dunes have not been investigated. We studied the root colonizing AMF communities of four characteristic native plants of eastern Mediterranean coastal foredunes, in nine locations in Greece. Host-specificity (plant identity) was the major driver of AMF community assembly in the plant roots, while geographical distance between locations was not related to differences in the AMF communities. Additionally, colonizer AMF communities were characterized by over-dominance of a single operational taxanomic unit (OTUs), which was remarkably host-specific among locations. Wider dissimilarity in AMF communities was observed in small and disturbed (SD) sites compared to large and undisturbed (LU) sites, a trait that may be attributed to relaxed environmental filtering and facilitated AMF dispersal/immigration in SD sites from surrounding habitats. Overall, our results indicate that the assembly of root-colonizing AMF communities in the eastern Mediterranean sand dunes is characterized by strong biotic filtering (host identity), suggesting that co-adaptation processes may be more pronounced than previously proposed, under extreme environmental conditions. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]