Fungal root endophyte associations of plants endemic to the Pamir Alay Mountains of Central Asia

The fungal root endophyte associations of 16 species from 12 families of plants endemic to the Pamir Alay Mountains of Central Asia are presented. The plants and soil samples were collected in Zeravshan and Hissar ranges within the central Pamir Alay mountain system. Colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was found in 15 plant species; in 8 species it was of the Arum type and in 4 of the Paris type, while 3 taxa revealed intermediate arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) morphology. AMF colonization was found to be absent only in Matthiola integrifolia, the representative of the Brassicaceae family. The AM status and morphology are reported for the first time for all the species analyzed and for the genera Asyneuma, Clementsia, and Eremostachys. Mycelia of dark septate endophytes (DSE) accompanied the AMF colonization in ten plant species. The frequency of DSE occurrence in the roots was low in all the plants, with the exception of Spiraea baldschuanica. However, in the case of both low and higher occurrence, the percentage of DSE root colonization was low. Moreover, the sporangia of Olpidium spp. were sporadically found inside the root epidermal cells of three plant species. Seven AMF species (Glomeromycota) found in the trap cultures established with soils surrounding roots of the plants being studied were reported for the first time from this region of Asia. Our results provide information that might well be of use to the conservation and restoration programmes of these valuable plant species. The potential application of beneficial root-inhabiting fungi in active plant protection projects of rare, endemic and endangered plants is discussed

Changes in the Diversity of Soil Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi after Cultivation for Biofuel Production in a Guantanamo (Cuba) Tropical System

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key, integral component of the stability, sustainability and functioning of ecosystems. In this study, we characterised the AMF biodiversity in a native vegetation soil and in a soil cultivated with Jatropha curcas or Ricinus communis, in a tropical system in Guantanamo (Cuba), in order to verify if a change of land use to biofuel plant production had any effect on the AMF communities. We also asses whether some soil properties related with the soil fertility (total N, Organic C, microbial biomass C, aggregate stability percentage, pH and electrical conductivity) were changed with the cultivation of both crop species. The AM fungal small sub-unit (SSU) rRNA genes were subjected to PCR, cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Twenty AM fungal sequence types were identified: 19 belong to the Glomeraceae and one to the Paraglomeraceae. Two AMF sequence types related to cultured AMF species (Glo G3 for Glomus sinuosum and Glo G6 for Glomus intraradices-G. fasciculatum-G. irregulare) did not occur in the soil cultivated with J. curcas and R. communis. The soil properties (total N, Organic C and microbial biomass C) were higher in the soil cultivated with the two plant species. The diversity of the AMF community decreased in the soil of both crops, with respect to the native vegetation soil, and varied significantly depending on the crop species planted. Thus, R. communis soil showed higher AMF diversity than J. curcas soil. In conclusion, R. communis could be more suitable for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of these tropical ecosytems

Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota)

Compared to the higher fungi (Dikarya), taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number. Thus, the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known. Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information. It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines. Recently, Tedersoo et al. (MycoKeys 13:1--20, 2016) accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade. Thus, we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi. We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz. Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. Thus, 611 genera in 153 families, 43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification, synonyms, life modes, distribution, recent literature and genomic data. Moreover, Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved, Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr. is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced

Bogactwo i zróżnicowanie gatunkowe oraz dostępność propagul grzybów arbuskularnych w monokulturach pięciu roślin leczniczych

The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota, AMF) in soils may be crucial for sustainable agriculture. Although AMF impact on the performance and accumulation of therapeutic compounds of several medicinal plant species has been well documented, the investigations on the influence of medicinal plants being cultivated on AMF have been insufficiently studied. The effect of three-year monocultures of mycorrhizal (Hypericum perforatum, Levisticum officinale, Mentha × citrata subsp. citrata and Thymus vulgaris) and non-mycorrhizal (Chelidonium majus) medicinal plant species on AMF propagule abundance, species richness and composition was therefore examined. The AMF non-host plant species C. majus decreased the abundance of AMF propagules in the soil, whereas the mycorrhizal plants maintained the AMF propagule potential at the same level, however, they changed the composition of AMF species. The results showed that the choice of medicinal plant species, grown even for a relatively short period of time in a monoculture, can substantially alter the AMF potential of soils which in turn can influence the performance of other medicinal plants cultivated subsequently.Obecność symbiotycznych grzybów arbuskularnych (Glomeromycota) w glebach może być istotna dla zrównoważonego rolnictwa. Chociaż wpływ tych mikroorganizmów na witalność i produkcję metabolitów wtórnych przez rośliny lecznicze był badany w ostatnich latach, niewiele wiadomo na temat oddziaływania uprawianych roślin leczniczych na te grzyby. Celem pracy było więc określenie wpływu trzyletniej uprawy mikoryzowych (Hypericum perforatum, Levisticum officinale, Mentha × citrata subsp. citrata i Thymus vulgaris) i niemikoryzowych (Chelidonium majus) gatunków roślin leczniczych na liczbę propagul, bogactwo oraz zróżnicowanie gatunkowe grzybów arbuskularnych. Uprawa C. majus spowodowała spadek liczby propagul tych mikroorganizmów w glebie. W przypadku roślin mikoryzowych dostępność propagul utrzymywała się na podobnym poziomie. Uprawiane rośliny miały jednak wpływ na skład gatunkowy grzybów arbuskularnych. Uprawa badanych roślin leczniczych na danym terenie, nawet przez stosunkowo krótki czas, wpływa na zmianę składu gatunkowego i dostępność propagul grzybów arbuskularnych w glebie, co w konsekwencji może mieć wpływ na witalność roślin leczniczych, zależnych od symbiozy mikoryzowej, uprawianych w przyszłości na tym terenie