Community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in saline alkaline soil of northwest China

Abstract

Community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was investigated in saline alkaline soil of northwest China. Soil samples were collected from the rhizospheres of 25 common plant species and were analyzed for soil properties and AMF composition. In total, twenty-eight species of AMF were identified, belonging to 4 genera, i.e. 4 Acaulospora species, 2 Archaeospora species, 2 Diversispora species and 20 Glomus species. Glomus, Diversispora and Archaeospora were dominant genera, G. constrictum, G. geosporum, G. intraradices, D. versiforme and Ar. leptotichum were dominant species. AMF species richness of saline soil, alkaline soil and salinized irrigation soil was 24, 18 and 17 species respectively. Ar. leptotichum, D. versiforme, G. constrictum, G. geosporum and G. intraradices were dominant in all soil types, whereas, some degree of specialization in AMF according to soil types was recorded. AMF community structure was correlated with changes in soil properties.