The influence of environmental degradation processes on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community associated with yew (Taxus baccata L.), an endangered tree species from Mediterranean ecosystems of Southeast Spain

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 370; no. 1/2; pp. 355 - 366
• Main Authors: López-García, Álvaro, Hempel, Stefan, de D. Miranda, Juan, Rillig, Matthias C., Barea, José M., Azcón-Aguilar, Concepción
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-09-2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Diseases and pests; Ecology; Economic plant physiology; Endangered plants; Endangered species; Environmental aspects; Environmental degradation; Forest habitats; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; General agronomy. Plant production; Genetic diversity; Habitat conservation; Habitat degradation; Habitats; Health aspects; Host-parasite relationships; Life Sciences; Mycorrhizal fungi; Mycorrhizas; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plants; Population decline; Principal components analysis; Refugia; Regular Article; Reintroduction; Roots; Soil ecology; Soil fungi; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Spain; Symbiosis (nodules, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, mycorrhiza...); Synecology; Taxus baccata; Terrestrial ecosystems; Topology; Trees; Vegetation; Yew; Southern Europe; Europe; Spain; Refugial habitats; Mediterranean degraded areas; TRFLP; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Process; Glomeromycota; Southeast; Temperate zone; Fungi; Ecological damage; Ecosystem; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Taxus baccata; Habitat; Symbiosis; Endangered species; Symbiont; Endomycorrhiza; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; Mycorrhiza; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Soil plant relation; Mediterranean region; Mediterranean climate; Community
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1625-0

Aims To assess whether the yew roots, which are able to provide a very constant environment due to their long life-span, can maintain the original arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community during yew population decline. Methods The diversity of AM fungi (AMF) colonizing the roots of yew was analyzed by selecting the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes to construct a database of the overall community of AMF in the experimental area. A terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) approach was used to identify the AMF communities present in yew roots. Physiological and environmental variables related to topology and soil and plant characteristics were determined as markers of habitat degradation. Results The AMF communities within yew roots were found to be dependent on soil, plant and topological variables indicative of habitat degradation surrounding the yew. The phylogenetic diversity of AMF associated to the yews was lower in habitats more exposed to degradation than in those better conserved. Conclusions The target yews can be grouped into two degradation levels. AMF communities were also affected by the degradation processes affecting their hosts. This finding rules out the role of these trees as refugia for their original AMF community, a fact that should be considered in plant reintroduction programs using AMF as bioenhancers.