6533b833fe1ef96bd129b385

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Molecular community and population studies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota)

subject

description

The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, which appeared at the same time as land plants, 460 million years ago, is a mutualistic beneficial association between most land plants, including those cultivated, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF, from the Glomeromycota phylum, are widespread soil microorganisms needing a photosynthetic host to complete their life cycle (obligate symbionts). The great potential of plant mineral nutrition improvement and crop production increased during this symbiosis, make AMF an asset in the context of an increase in the demand of world food crop production. The control of that symbiosis by ecology engineering in order to improve ecosystem services, especially in agroecosystems, needs to better understand the mechanisms regulating its dynamic. Therefore, we studied community and population diversity of AMF under influences of different agricultural practices at several spatial scales using genetic fingerprinting methods: high-throughput sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results show that AMF diversity is structured by land use type (grassland vs. arable fields), cultural practices (soil disturbance, fertilizations, culturing systems) as well as environmental factors (e.g. soil pH). In conclusion, those different factors have to taken in account in AMF ecosystemic service managing.