Seasonality of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and dark septate endophytes in a grassland site in southwest China

FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2005 Nov 1;54(3):367-73. doi: 10.1016/j.femsec.2005.04.011. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungal colonization in a grassland in Kunming, southwest China, was investigated monthly over one year. All plant roots surveyed were co-colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungi in this grassland. Both arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic fungal colonization fluctuated significantly throughout the year, and their seasonal patterns were different in each plant species. The relationships between environmental (climatic and edaphic) factors and fungal colonization were also studied. Correlation analysis demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization was significantly correlative with environmental factors (rainfall, sunlight hours, soil P, etc.), but dark septate endophytic fungal colonization was only correlative with relative humidity and sunlight hours.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • China
  • Fungi / physiology*
  • Magnoliopsida / microbiology*
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Plant Roots / microbiology*
  • Rain
  • Seasons*
  • Soil / analysis
  • Sunlight
  • Symbiosis*

Substances

  • Soil
  • Phosphorus