Please wait a minute...
Journal of Arid Land  2012, Vol. 4 Issue (1): 43-51    DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1227.2012.00042
Research Articles     
Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with desert ephemeral plants in Gurbantunggut Desert
Tao ZHANG1, ChangYan TIAN2, Yu SUN3, DengSha BAI4, Gu FENG1
1 College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
2 Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
3 Institute of Crop Tillage and Cultivation, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150030, China;
4 Institute of Nuclear and Biotechnology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
Download:   PDF(596KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  Previous studies documented that most desert plants can be colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, however, little is known about how the dynamics of AM fungi are related to ephemerals in desert ecosystems. The dynamics of AM fungi with desert ephemerals were examined to determine the effects of host plant life stages on the development of AM fungi. Mean colonization of ephemeral annual plants was 45% lower than that of ephemeral perennial plants. The colonizations were much higher in the early part of the growing season than in later parts, peaking at flowering times. The phenology of AM fungi in root systems varied among different ephemerals. The density of AM fungal spores increased with the development of ephemeral annual plants, reached its maximum at flowering times, and then plateaued about 20 days after the aboveground senescence. A significant positive correlation was found between AM fungi spore density and biomass of ephemeral annual plants. The life cycles of AM fungi associated with desert ephemerals were very short, being about 60–70 days. Soil temperature and water content had no direct influence on the development of AM fungal spores. We concluded that the development of AM fungi was in response to desert ephemeral phenology and life history strategy.

Key wordstemperature      precipitation      global climate      Minqin     
Received: 18 July 2011      Published: 05 March 2012
Fund:  

The National Natural Science Foundation of China (30770341) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (the WATERCOPE project, I-R-1284).

Corresponding Authors:
Cite this article:

Tao ZHANG, ChangYan TIAN, Yu SUN, DengSha BAI, Gu FENG. Dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with desert ephemeral plants in Gurbantunggut Desert. Journal of Arid Land, 2012, 4(1): 43-51.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.3724/SP.J.1227.2012.00042     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2012/V4/I1/43

Allen E B, Allen M F. 1988. Facilitation of succession by the nonmycotrophic colonizer Salsola-kali (Chenopodiaceae) on a harsh

   site-effects of mycorrhizal fungi. American Journal of Botany, 75(2): 257–266.

Allen M F, Allen E B, Stahl P D. 1984. Differential niche response of Bouteloua gracilis and Pascopyrum smithii to VA mycorrhizae. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 111(3): 361–365.

Allen M F. 1989. Mycorrhizae and rehabilitation of disturbed arid soils: processes and practices. Arid Land Research and Management, 3(2): 229–241.

Allen M F. 2001. Modeling arbuscular mycorrhizal infection: is % infection an appropriate variable? Mycorrhiza, 10: 255-258.

Allen M F. 2007. Mycorrhizal fungi: highways for water and nutrients in arid soils. Vadose Zone Journal, 6(2): 291–297.

Allen M F. 2011. Linking water and nutrients through the vadose zone: a fungal interface between the soil and plant systems. Journal of Arid Land, 3(3): 155–163.

Auge R M. 2001. Water relations, drought and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhiza, 11: 3–42.

Berliner R, Mitchell D T, Allsopp N. 1989. The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infectivity of sandy soils in the south-western Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 55(1): 310–313.

Brundrett M C. 2009. Mycorrhizal associations and other means of nutrition of vascular plants: understanding the global diversity of host plants by resolving conflicting information and developing reliable means of diagnosis. Plant and Soil, 320(1–2): 37–77.

Clark R B. 1997. Arbuscular mycorrhizal adaptation, spore germination, root colonization, and host plant growth and mineral acquisition at low pH. Plant and Soil, 192(1): 15–22.

Collier S C, Yarnes C T, Herman R P. 2003. Mycorrhizal dependency of Chihuahuan Desert plants is influenced by life history strategy and root morphology. Journal of Arid Environments, 55(2): 223–229.

Cui M, Nobel P S. 1992. Nutrient status, water-uptake and gas-exchange for three desert succulents infected with mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist, 122(4): 643–649.

Douds D D, Galvez L, Janke R R, et al. 1995. Effect of tillage and farming system upon populations and distribution of vesicular- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Agriculture Ecosystems & Enviro- nment, 52(2–3): 111–118.

Feil W, Kottke I, Oberwinkler F. 1988. The effect of drought on mycorrhizal production and very fine root-system development of Norway spruce under natural and experimental conditions. Plant and Soil, 108(3): 221–231.

Gaidashova S V, Van Asten P J A, Jefwa J M, et al. 2010. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the East African Highland banana cropping systems as related to edapho-climatic conditions and management practices: case study of Rwanda. Fungal Ecology, 3(7): 225–233.

Grigera M S, Drijber R A, Wienhold B J. 2007. Increased abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil coincides with the reproductive stages of maize. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 39(8): 1401–1409.

Hart M M, Reader R J, Klironomos J N. 2003. Plant coexistence mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18(4): 418–423.

Hartnett D C, Wilson G W T. 1999. Mycorrhizae influence plant community structure and diversity in tallgrass prairie. Ecology, 80(4): 1187–1195.

Hausmann N T, Hawkes C V. 2009. Plant neighborhood control of arbuscular mycorrhizal community composition. New Phytologist, 183(4): 1188–1200.

Hayman D S. 1982. Influence of soils and fertility on activity and survival of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Phytopathology, 72(8): 1119–1125.

Heinemeyer A, Ineson P, Ostle N, et al. 2006. Respiration of the external mycelium in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis shows strong dependence on recent photosynthates and acclimation to temperature. New Phytologist, 171(1): 159–170.

Jakobsen I. 2004. Hyphal fusion to plant species connections–giant mycelia and community nutrient flow. New Phytologist, 164(1): 4–7.

Johnson D, Vandenkoornhuyse P J, Leake J R, et al. 2004. Plant communities affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and            community composition in grassland microcosms. New Phytologist, 161(2): 503–515.

Johnson N C, Tilman D, Wedin D. 1992. Plant and soil controls on mycorrhizal fungal communities. Ecology, 73(6): 2034-2042.

Lekberg Y, Koide R T. 2008. Effect of soil moisture and temperature during fallow on survival of contrasting isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Botany-Botanique, 86(10): 1117–1124.

Mao Z, Zhang D. 1994. The conspectus of ephemeral flora in northern Xinjiang. Arid Zone Research, 11(3): 1–26.

Mikkelsen B L, Rosendahl S, Jakobsen I. 2008. Underground resource allocation between individual networks of mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist, 180(4): 890–898.

O'Connor P J, Smith S E, Smith F A. 2001. Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in the southern Simpson Desert. Australian Journal of Botany, 49(4): 493–499.

O'Connor P J, Smith S E, Smith E A. 2002. Arbuscular mycorrhizas influence plant diversity and community structure in a semiarid herbland. New Phytologist, 154(1): 209–218.

Oehl F, Laczko E, Bogenrieder A, Stahr K, et al. 2010. Soil type and land use intensity determine the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 42(5): 724–738

Pennisi. 2004. The secret life of fungi. Science, 304: 1620–1622.

Pringle A, Bever J D. 2002. Divergent phenologies may facilitate the coexistence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a north carolina grassland. American Journal of Botany, 89(9): 1439–1446.

Qian Y B, Wu Z N, Zhang L Y, et al. 2007. Spatial patterns of ephemeral plants in Gurbantunggut Desert. Chinese Science Bulletin, 52(22): 3118–3127.

Rasmussen H N, Whigham D F. 2002. Phenology of roots and mycorrhiza in orchid species differing in phototrophic strategy. New Phytologist, 154(3): 797–807.

Rillig M C, Allen M F, Klironomos J N, et al. 1998. Arbuscular mycorrhizal percent root infection and infection intensity of Bromus hordeaceus grown in elevated atmospheric CO2. Mycologia, 90(2): 199–205.

Shi Z Y. 2006. Biodiversity and ecological function of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with spring ephemerals in the north of Xinjiang. Ph.D dissertation, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 39.

Shi Z Y, Feng G, Christie P, et al. 2006. Arbuscular mycorrhizal status of spring ephemerals in the desert ecosystem of Junggar Basin, China. Mycorrhiza, 16(4): 269–275.

Smith S E, Read D J. 2008. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis 3rd ed: Boston: Academic Press.

Sun Y, Li X L, Feng G. 2008. Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on ecological functional traits of ephemerals in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Symbiosis, 46(3): 121–127.

Tian C Y, Shi Z Y, Chen Z C, et al. 2006. Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(Suppl.): 140–146.

Titus J H, Titus P J, Nowak R S, et al. 2002. Arbuscular mycorrhizae of Mojave Desert plants. Western North American Naturalist, 62(3): 327–334.

Trepanier M, Becard G, Moutoglis P, et al. 2005. Dependence of arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi on their plant host for palmitic acid synthesis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71(9): 5341–5347.

Trouvelot A, Kough J L, Gianinazzi-Pearson V. 1986. Mesure du taux de mycorhization VA d’un systeme radiculaire. Recherchede methodes d’estimation ayant une signification functionnelle. In: Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Gianinazzi S. Physiological and Genetic Aspects of Mycorrhizae. Paris: INRA Press, 217–221.

van der Heijden M G A, Klironomos J N, Ursic M, et al. 1998. Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosy- stem variability and productivity. Nature, 396(6706): 69–72.

van der Heijden M G A. 2004. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as support systems for seedling establishment in grassland. Ecology Letters, 7(4): 293–303.

van der Heijden M G A, Streitwolf-Engel R, Riedl R, et al. 2006. The mycorrhizal contribution to plant productivity, plant nutrition and soil structure in experimental grassland. New Phytologist, 172(4): 739–752.

Wang X Q, Jiang J, Lei J Q, et al. 2003. The distribution of ephemeral vegetation on the longitudinal dune surface and its stabilization significance in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Acta Geographica Sinica, 58(4): 598–605.

Wang X Q, Jiang J, Lei J Q, et al. 2004. Relationship between spring ephemeral plants distribution and soil moisture on longitudinal dune surface in Gurbantunggut Desert. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 15: 556–560.

Wang Y. 1993. Phenological observation of the early spring ephemeral and ephemeriod plant in Xinjiang. Arid Zone Research, 10(3): 34–39.

Yamato M, Ikeda S, Iwase K. 2009. Community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in drought-resistant plants, moringa spp., in semiarid regions in Madagascar and Uganda. Mycoscience, 50(2): 100–105.

Zhang L. 2002. Ephemeral plants in Xinjiang(iii): significance of community and resource. Journal of Plant, 3: 4–5.

Zhang L, Chen C. 2002. On the general characteristics of plant diversity of Gurbantunggut sandy desert. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 22: 1923– 1932.
[1] Mitiku A WORKU, Gudina L FEYISA, Kassahun T BEKETIE, Emmanuel GARBOLINO. Projecting future precipitation change across the semi-arid Borana lowland, southern Ethiopia[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(9): 1023-1036.
[2] QIANG Yuquan, ZHANG Jinchun, XU Xianying, LIU Hujun, DUAN Xiaofeng. Stem sap flow of Haloxylon ammodendron at different ages and its response to physical factors in the Minqin oasis-desert transition zone, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(7): 842-857.
[3] ZHANG Lihua, GAO Han, WANG Junfeng, ZHAO Ruifeng, WANG Mengmeng, HAO Lianyi, GUO Yafei, JIANG Xiaoyu, ZHONG Lingfei. Plant property regulates soil bacterial community structure under altered precipitation regimes in a semi-arid desert grassland, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(5): 602-619.
[4] Sakine KOOHI, Hadi RAMEZANI ETEDALI. Future meteorological drought conditions in southwestern Iran based on the NEX-GDDP climate dataset[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 377-392.
[5] ZHANG Yixin, LI Peng, XU Guoce, MIN Zhiqiang, LI Qingshun, LI Zhanbin, WANG Bin, CHEN Yiting. Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of extreme precipitation on the Loess Plateau of China facing the precipitation process[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 439-459.
[6] LI Hongfang, WANG Jian, LIU Hu, MIAO Henglu, LIU Jianfeng. Responses of vegetation yield to precipitation and reference evapotranspiration in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 477-490.
[7] Adnan ABBAS, Asher S BHATTI, Safi ULLAH, Waheed ULLAH, Muhammad WASEEM, ZHAO Chengyi, DOU Xin, Gohar ALI. Projection of precipitation extremes over South Asia from CMIP6 GCMs[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(3): 274-296.
[8] HAN Mengxue, ZHANG Lin, LIU Xiaoqiang. Subsurface irrigation with ceramic emitters improves wolfberry yield and economic benefits on the Tibetan Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(11): 1376-1390.
[9] WANG Yuxia, ZHANG Jing, YU Xiaojun. Effects of mulch and planting methods on Medicago ruthenica seed yield and soil physical-chemical properties[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(8): 894-909.
[10] LI Qian, MA Long, LIU Tingxi. Transformation among precipitation, surface water, groundwater, and mine water in the Hailiutu River Basin under mining activity[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(6): 620-636.
[11] SU Yuan, GONG Yanming, HAN Wenxuan, LI Kaihui, LIU Xuejun. Dependency of litter decomposition on litter quality, climate change, and grassland type in the alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(6): 691-703.
[12] CHEN Haiyan, CHEN Yaning, LI Dalong, LI Weihong, YANG Yuhui. Identifying water vapor sources of precipitation in forest and grassland in the north slope of the Tianshan Mountains, Central Asia[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(3): 297-309.
[13] ZHAO Yanni, CHEN Rensheng, HAN Chuntan, WANG Lei. Adjustment of precipitation measurements using Total Rain weighing Sensor (TRwS) gauges in the cryospheric hydrometeorology observation (CHOICE) system of the Qilian Mountains, Northwest China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(3): 310-324.
[14] WU Changxue, Xu Ruirui, QIU Dexun, DING Yingying, GAO Peng, MU Xingmin, ZHAO Guangju. Runoff characteristics and its sensitivity to climate factors in the Weihe River Basin from 2006 to 2018[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(12): 1344-1360.
[15] Faraz GORGIN PAVEH, Hadi RAMEZANI ETEDALI, Brian COLLINS. Evaluation of CRU TS, GPCC, AgMERRA, and AgCFSR meteorological datasets for estimating climate and crop variables: A case study of maize in Qazvin Province, Iran[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(12): 1361-1376.