Guangxi Zhiwu (Mar 2023)

Responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization rate to slope position and shrub species in karst slopes

  • Meifeng CHEN,
  • Zhongcheng WANG,
  • Nannan JIANG,
  • Shengmeng ZHENG,
  • Yajun HU,
  • Xiangbi CHEN,
  • Xunyang HE

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11931/guihaia.gxzw202111050
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 3
pp. 547 – 556

Abstract

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The response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization rate to slope position and shrub species in karst slope and the key influencing factors were identified, which is the prerequisite for rational utilization of soil AMF to promote karst vegetation restoration. Based on field investigation of typical shrub communities and environmental variables on slopes of a karst peak cluster depression. The fine root samples of three typical shrub species (Vitex negundo, Alchornea trewioides and Pyracantha fortuneana) were collected from three positions (upper, middle and lower) along three slopes. The frequency, intensity and abundance of AMF colonization were detected and calculated by the Trypan blue-microscope method. The results were as follows: (1) The colonization frequency, colonization intensity and abundance of AMF for Vitex negundo and Alchornea trewioides were higher than those for Pyracantha fortuneana in the same slope. The colonization intensity for Vitex negundo and Pyracantha fortuneana in the lower slope was higher than that in the upper and middle slopes. The abundance of AMF for Alchornea trewioides in the middle slope was significantly higher than that in the upper and lower slopes (P<0.05). (2) Shrub species had significant effect on the colonization frequency, intensity and abundance of AMF, and slope position only had significant effect on the colonization intensity of AMF. Slope position and shrub species had significant interactive effect on the abundance of AMF (P<0.05). (3) Soil depth and total potassium content were identified as the two strongest explanatory factors on AMF colonization rate according to the redundancy analysis (P<0.05). Therefore, the rational use of soil AMF to promote vegetation restoration in karst areas needs to consider the choice of terrain and species, and should pay attention to the water and soil conservation. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for rational utilization of the symbiotic relationship between soil AMF and plants and promoting ecological restoration of karst peak cluster depression.

Keywords