Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with clonal plants in Mu Us Sandy Land

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is important in maintaining the functions and biodiversity of arid-land ecosystems and is also an indispensable factor in the restoration and reestablishment of vegetation. In particular, AM fungi are ubiquitous symbiotic fungi and plants. Clonal plants possess wider ecological neighborhoods than non-clonal plants. Clonal plants constitute a form of resource for the restoration of the Mu Us Sandy Land. Clonal plants have been identified as the driver of change in community environments and greatly contribute to the maintenance of community functions in the restoration process of vegetation. Clonal plants considerably enhance the ability of self-rehabilitation of sandy landscapes. To elucidate species diversity and ecological distribution of AM fungi associated with 3 kinds of clonal plants (Psammochloa villosa, Hedysarum leave, Artemisia ordosica) in Mu Us Sandy Land, two representative sites (Research Station and Yulin) were selected from the northeast and southwest of Mu Us Sandy Land. Soil samples at 50 cm depth of rhizosphere of clonal plants were collected in 4 replicates at each location and divided into sections corresponding to 0~10 cm, 10~20 cm, 20~30 cm, 30~40 cm, 40~50 cm depths in May, July and October 2006. A total of 23 AM fungal species belonging to 4 genera were isolated and identified. Of these, 15 species belonged to Glomus, 5 to Acaulospora, 2 to Gigaspora, and 1 to Scutellospora. G. mosseae was the dominant species in the P. villosa rhizosphere; G. melanosporum was the common species in the rhizosphere of 3 kinds of clonal plants. The ecological distributions were different among species and AM fungi genera. AM fungi spore density, species richness and species diversity index were highest in H. leave rhizosphere in the Research Station. The results showed that AM fungal species diversity was rich in clonal plant rhizospheres in Mu Us Sandy Land. Also the spatial distribution dynamics of AM fungal species in Mu Us Sandy Land was significant. This paper described the diversity and distribution of AM fungi in the rhizospheres of three kinds of clonal plants, which provided the basis for reestablishing ecosystems and sustaining economic development in Mu Us Sandy Land.