Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phylogenetic groups differ in affecting host plants along heavy metal levels

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF） are important components of soil microbial communities,and play important role in plant growth. However, the effects of AMF phylogenetic groups（Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae） on host plant under various heavy metal levels are not clear. Here we conducted a meta-analysis to compare symbiotic relationship between AMF phylogenetic groups（Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae） and host plant functional groups（herbs vs. trees, and non-legumes vs. legumes） at three heavy metal levels. In the meta-analysis, we calculate the effect size（ln（RR）） by taking the natural logarithm of the response ratio of inoculated to non-inoculated shoot biomass from each study. We found that the effect size of Glomeraceae increased, but the effect size of non-Glomeraceae decreased under high level of heavy metal compared to low level. According to the effect size, both Glomeraceae and non-Glomeraceae promoted host plant growth, but had different effects under various heavy metal levels. Glomeraceae provided more benefit to host plants than non-Glomeraceae did under heavy metal condition, while non-Glomeraceae provided more benefit to host plants than Glomeraceae did under no heavy metal. AMF phylogenetic groups also differed in promoting plant functional groups under various heavy metal levels.Interacting with Glomeraceae, herbs and legumes grew better than trees and non-legumes did under high heavy metal level, while trees and legumes grew better than herbs and non-legumes did under medium heavy metal level. Interacting with non-Glomeraceae, herbs and legumes grew better than trees and non-legumes did under no heavy metal. We suggested that the combination of legume with Glomeraceae could be a useful way in the remediation of heavy metal polluted environment.     

A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem‐based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature. Una Perspectiva Micótica de la Biología de la Conservación     

Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at a large-scale antimony mining area in southern China

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have great potential for assisting heavy metal hyperaccumulators in the remediation of contaminated soils. However, little information is available about the community composition of AMF under natural conditions in soils contaminated by antimony (Sb). The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of AMF molecular diversity, and to explore the effects of Sb content and soil properties on the AMF community structure in an Sb mining area. Four Sb mine spoils and one adjacent reference area were selected from around the Xikuangshan mine in southern China. The association of AMF molecular diversity and community composition with the rhizosphere soils of the dominant plant species was studied by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Results from all five studied sites showed that the diversity of AMF decreased with increasing Sb concentration. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the AMF community structure was markedly different among these groups. Further redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that Sb contaminationwas the dominating factor influencing the AMF community structure in the Sb mine area. However, the multivariate analysis showed that, apart from the soil Sb content, extractable nitrogen content and organic matter content also attributed to AMF sequence distribution type. Some AMF sequences were only found in the highly contaminated area and these might be ideal candidates for improving phytoremediation efficiency in Sb mining regions. Gene sequencing analysis revealed that most species were affiliated with Glomus, suggesting that Glomus was the dominant AMF genus in the studied Sb mining area.     

Piriformospora indica confers cadmium tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum

Piriformospora indica, a root-colonizing endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, promotes plant growth and confers resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to confirm the influence of P. indica on growth, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), chlorophyll, and cadmium (Cd) amounts in Nicotiana tabacum under Cd stress, hydroponics, pot and field trials were conducted. The results showed that P. indica can store Cd in plant roots and reduce leaf Cd content, reduce the concentration of MDA, and increase the proline and chlorophyll content and the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase under hydroponic Cd stress. RT-PCR analysis showed that the relative expression level of genes Gsh2, TaPCS1, oas1, GPX, and Hsp70 in colonized plants was 4.3, 1.4, 2.9, 1.7, and 6.9 fold higher than in un-colonized plants respectively. Cd exposure significantly reduced un-colonized plants'' agronomic traits compared to P. indica-colonized ones. Our results suggested that P. indica can sequester Cd in roots, so that much less cadmium was transported to leaves, and the increased concentrations of antioxidant enzymes, pigments and proline contents, as well as the higher expression of stress-related phytochelatin biosynthesis genes in P. indica-inoculated plants, may also serve to protect N. tabacum plants against oxidative damage, enhancing Cd tolerance.     

Can arbuscular mycorrhiza and fertilizer management reduce phosphorus runoff from paddy fields?

Our study sought to assess how much phosphorus (P) runoff from paddy fields could be cut down by fertilizer management and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A field experiment was conducted in Lalin River basin, in the northeast China: six nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium fertilizer levels were provided (0, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of the recommended fertilizer supply), with or without inoculation with Glomus mosseae. The volume and concentrations of particle P (PP) and dissolved P (DP) were measured for each runoff during the rice growing season. It was found that the seasonal P runoff, including DP and PP, under the local fertilization was 3.7 kg/ha, with PP, rather than DP, being the main form of P in runoff water. Additionally, the seasonal P runoff dropped only by 8.9% when fertilization decreased by 20%; rice yields decreased with declining fertilization. We also found that inoculation increased rice yields and decreased P runoff at each fertilizer level and these effects were lower under higher fertilization. Conclusively, while rice yields were guaranteed arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and fertilizer management would play a key role in reducing P runoff from paddy fields.     

Reservoir‐host amplification of disease impact in an endangered amphibian

Emerging wildlife pathogens are an increasing threat to biodiversity. One of the most serious wildlife diseases is chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been documented in over 500 amphibian species. Amphibians vary greatly in their susceptibility to Bd; some species tolerate infection, whereas others experience rapid mortality. Reservoir hosts—species that carry infection while maintaining high abundance but are rarely killed by disease—can increase extinction risk in highly susceptible, sympatric species. However, whether reservoir hosts amplify Bd in declining amphibian species has not been examined. We investigated the role of reservoir hosts in the decline of the threatened northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) in an amphibian community in southeastern Australia. In the laboratory, we characterized the response of a potential reservoir host, the (nondeclining) common eastern froglet (Crinia signifera), to Bd infection. In the field, we conducted frog abundance surveys and Bd sampling for both P. pengilleyi and C. signifera. We built multinomial logistic regression models to test whether Crinia signifera and environmental factors were associated with P. pengilleyi decline. C. signifera was a reservoir host for Bd. In the laboratory, many individuals maintained intense infections (>1000 zoospore equivalents) over 12 weeks without mortality, and 79% of individuals sampled in the wild also carried infections. The presence of C. signifera at a site was strongly associated with increased Bd prevalence in sympatric P. pengilleyi. Consistent with disease amplification by a reservoir host, P. pengilleyi declined at sites with high C. signifera abundance. Our results suggest that when reservoir hosts are present, population declines of susceptible species may continue long after the initial emergence of Bd, highlighting an urgent need to assess extinction risk in remnant populations of other declined amphibian species.     

不同磷水平下丛枝菌根真菌对纳米氧化锌生物效应的影响

纳米ZnO颗粒是应用最为广泛金属型纳米颗粒(nanoparticles,NPs)之一,对作物和土壤微生物的影响值得关注.丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizal,AM)是自然界中普遍存在的植物-真菌共生体,对各种环境胁迫具有一定的抵御能力,但菌根效应受土壤和植物磷含量的影响.分别设置0、20、50、100 mg·kg~(-1)这4个磷水平,在接种或不接种AM真菌Funneliformis mosseae、添加或不添加纳米ZnO(500 mg·kg~(-1))条件下在温室中利用玉米进行土壤盆栽试验.结果表明,纳米ZnO没有显著影响玉米生长,但不利于菌根侵染和磷素吸收,并引起锌在植物体内的积累.纳米ZnO和高磷降低玉米菌根侵染,但AM真菌在所有磷水平下均显著促进植物生长.施磷和接菌均可使土壤p H升高、降低纳米ZnO源锌的生物有效性,从而降低锌向玉米地上部分的转运和积累,体现出一定保护作用.接菌在多数情况下显示出积极的菌根效应,尤其在低磷、添加纳米ZnO条件下更为显著.结果首次表明,AM真菌、磷肥均有助于减轻纳米ZnO引起的土壤污染及其所产生的生态和健康风险.     

沙田柚根围AM真菌的生境适宜性和季节变化性

以山地长寿沙田柚成年果树为对象,研究不同生境和季节对丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌侵染以及根围土壤中AM真菌孢子密度的影响.试验结果表明,不同生境下,菌根侵染率和AM真菌孢子密度都是以梯田最高,坡地次之,洼地最低;在坡地和洼地生境下,生草区均高于清耕区.两块试验地AM真菌的菌丝侵染率均为夏季最高(16.8%±1.9%和16.0%±1.8%),秋季次之,冬季最低;丛枝和泡囊的形成也是夏/秋季较高,春/冬季较低;而根围土壤中AM真菌孢子密度则是秋季最高[(159±19)个/100 g和(167±17)个/100 g],夏季次之,冬季最低.总之,对于长寿沙田柚成年果树,AM真菌的菌根侵染率在夏季梯田最高,根围土壤中的AM真菌孢子密度在秋季梯田最高;在坡地和洼地生境中,生草处理均可显著提高菌根侵染率和AM真菌孢子密度.图4参27     

高寒草原菌根围细菌数量对丛枝菌根真菌物种多样性的影响

基于丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizas fungi,AMF)孢子形态学鉴定,研究了藏北高寒草原主要建群植物菌根围细菌数量对AMF物种多样性的影响.结果表明:1)细菌数量1.02×106～2.96×106、3.01×106～6.06×106个/g范围内,Glomus、Acaulospora均为优势属,Scutellospora则均为最常见属;AMF孢子密度、分离频度、相对多度、重要值和种的丰度(SN、SR)均呈Glomus>Acaulospora>Scutellospora属的趋势.2)细菌数量较低时(<3.0×106个/g),AMF各属孢子密度、种的丰度(SR)相对较高,Shannon-Weiner指数、物种均匀度指数亦较高,分别达1.774和0.127.3)不同细菌数量条件下,孢子密度随细菌数量的增加而均呈微弱下降,菌根侵染率、侵染强度、丛枝丰度则均呈不同程度的提高.细菌数量>3.0×106个/g时,菌根侵染率、侵染强度和丛枝丰度随细菌数量增加而提高的趋势尤为明显.4)不同细菌数量条件下,AMF种的构成呈共有种、共有优势种较多(Glomus属均占绝对比重),特有种、稀有种较少,以及不同优势种孢子密度、相对多度和重要值差异均较悬殊的分布特征.图6表3参25     

锑胁迫下丛枝菌根真菌对玉米生长与锑吸收及抗氧化酶的影响

为了探讨AM(arbuscular mycorrhizal,丛枝菌根)真菌在Sb(锑)胁迫下对农作物生长及吸收Sb的影响,采用盆栽试验研究了在不同Sb添加量[即w(Sb)分别为0、500、1 000 mg/kg]下,接种AM真菌对玉米植株生物量以及N、P和Sb的吸收、膜脂过氧化[MDA(丙二醛)]和抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明:随着土壤中Sb添加量的增加,玉米植株的生物量、w(TN)和w(TP)均呈显著下降趋势,植株体内的w(Sb)和Sb积累量、MDA含量、CAT(过氧化氢酶)以及POD(过氧化酶)活性均显著上升.与未接种组相比,接种AM真菌显著促进了玉米植株的生长,提高了玉米植株地上部分的w(TN)和w(TP).在3个Sb添加量处理下,接种显著增加了玉米植株地下部分的w(Sb)、地上和地下部分的Sb积累量以及地上部分的CAT活性,增幅分别为8.90%~23.30%、18.87%~28.37%、27.68%~78.95%及14.92%~88.52%;同时,接种降低了玉米植株中Sb的转运率、玉米植株地上部分的w(Sb)和MDA含量,在1000 mg/kg Sb添加量下差异达显著水平,三者分别降低了36.35%、22.81%和24.29%.研究显示,在Sb污染环境下,接种AM真菌能够减轻玉米植株膜脂过氧化程度,在提高玉米植株地下部分w(Sb)的同时,也会降低Sb向地上部分的转运,减轻Sb对玉米的毒害作用.