Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization and Agricultural Land Use History. In: Solaiman, Z., Abbott, L., Varma, A. (eds) Mycorrhizal Fungi: Use in Sustainable Agriculture and Land Restoration.

Abstract

Most plant species form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi (Newman and Reddell 1987) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread in natural and agricultural ecosystems (Brundrett 1991). AM fungi can contribute to plant growth by enhancing water and nutrient uptake, especially phosphorus (P) (Ortas 1996; Jacobson 1997; Watts-Williams et al. 2014). Although AM fungi colonize roots of most plant species (Harley and Harley 1987; Smith and Read 2008), plants differ in their growth response to mycorrhizal colonization. Furthermore, plant species can influence the population of AM fungi (Crush 1978; Hiiesalu et al. 2014). AM fungi may also contribute to soil fertility by enhancing soil structure and protecting crops from root pathogens (Douds and Johnson 2003; Sharma et al. 2013). The soil environment, particularly those factors that control mineral fertility, strongly influences mycorrhizal function (Abbott and Robson 1982; Sikes et al. 2014). In agricultural fields, the status of AM fungi is influenced by soil conditions and management practices (Jansa et al. 2014). The diversity of AM fungi species can be lower in agricultural systems than in nearby natural fields (Helgason et al. 1998; Sieverding 1991) or forested areas (Boerner et al. 1996). However, factors such as crop and rotation history can also influence the abundance of AM fungi in agricultural soil (Douds and Johnson 2003; Helgason et al. 2014).

Most plant species form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi (Newman and Reddell 1987) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread in natural and agricultural ecosystems (Brundrett 1991). AM fungi can contribute to plant growth by enhancing water and nutrient uptake, especially phosphorus (P) (Ortas 1996; Jacobson 1997; Watts-Williams et al. 2014). Although AM fungi colonize roots of most plant species (Harley and Harley 1987; Smith and Read 2008), plants differ in their growth response to mycorrhizal colonization. Furthermore, plant species can influence the population of AM fungi (Crush 1978; Hiiesalu et al. 2014). AM fungi may also contribute to soil fertility by enhancing soil structure and protecting crops from root pathogens (Douds and Johnson 2003; Sharma et al. 2013). The soil environment, particularly those factors that control mineral fertility, strongly influences mycorrhizal function (Abbott and Robson 1982; Sikes et al. 2014). In agricultural fields, the status of AM fungi is influenced by soil conditions and management practices (Jansa et al. 2014). The diversity of AM fungi species can be lower in agricultural systems than in nearby natural fields (Helgason et al. 1998; Sieverding 1991) or forested areas (Boerner et al. 1996). However, factors such as crop and rotation history can also influence the abundance of AM fungi in agricultural soil (Douds and Johnson 2003; Helgason et al. 2014).