Impact of nitrogen fertilization and soil tillage on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a Mediterranean agroecosystem

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 67; pp. 285 - 294
• Main Authors: Avio, Luciano, Castaldini, Maurizio, Fabiani, Arturo, Bedini, Stefano, Sbrana, Cristiana, Turrini, Alessandra, Giovannetti, Manuela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: agricultural management; agroecosystems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Arable systems; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Biochemistry and biology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; correspondence analysis; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; crops; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungal communities; Fungal diversity; General agronomy. Plant production; Glomus; Glomus intraradices; Medicago sativa; mycorrhizal fungi; N-fertilization; nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizers; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; PCR–DGGE; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; production economics; protein content; roots; soil; Soil science; Soil tillage; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; sporulation; symbionts; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Tillage; Tillage. Tending. Growth control; Trap cultures; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Tillage; Arable systems; N-fertilization; Trap cultures; PCR–DGGE; Fungal diversity; Nitrogen fertilization; Soil tillage; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; Trap; Biodiversity; Glomeromycota; Symbiont; Agroecosystem; Fungi; Polymerase chain reaction; Endomycorrhiza; PCR―DGGE; Mycorrhiza; Soil science; Mediterranean climate; Community
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.09.005
• ISSN: 0038-0717

The impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization and tillage on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was studied in a Mediterranean arable system by combining molecular, biochemical and morphological analyses of field soil and of soil and roots from trap plants grown in microcosm. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of PCR–DGGE banding patterns evidenced that AMF communities in the field are affected by N-fertilization and tillage. N-fertilization was also the main factor shaping AMF communities in Medicago sativa trap plant soil and roots. The overall sporulation pattern of the different AMF species showed a predominant effect of tillage on AMF communities, as shown by CCA analysis. Funneliformis mosseae was the predominant species sporulating in tilled soils, while Glomus viscosum and Glomus intraradices prevailed in no-tilled soils. Field glomalin-related soil protein content was reduced by tillage practices. Our multimodal approach, providing data on two main production factors affecting soil AMF communities, may help implementing effective agricultural management strategies able to support the beneficial relationship between crops and native AMF symbionts. •The impact of tillage and N-fertilization on AMF was studied by a multimodal approach.•PCR–DGGE indicated N-fertilization as the main factor affecting AMF soil communities.•CCA discriminated AMF spore communities of no-tilled and tilled soils.•The sporulation pattern showed the predominance of Funneliformis mosseae in tilled soils.•Field glomalin related soil protein content was reduced by tillage practices.