【Objective】In this study, the distribution of AMF in soil in 20 typical sampling sites of Hubei and Anhui Provinces, China was investigated, in order to explore the diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere of Liquidambar formosana and understand AMF resources in L. formosana areas.【Method】 In this study, we selected 10, 20, 50 and 100 years old L. formosana as the research object, and collected 5-25 cm soil samples from the rhizosphere of L. formosana to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The isolated AMF spores were classified and identified based on morphological characteristics. AMF infestation in 20 sampling sites was observed by KOH decolorization-trypan blue staining method. Soil nutrient analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to investigate the correlation between AMF community structure and soil factors in different sampling sites. 【Result】 1) It was found that 97.65% of the root samples of L. formosana out of the 20 samples were infected by AMF, and the infection rate was 49.43%-73.84%, with an average infection rate of 62.07%. The infection rate was the highest (73.84%) in Jiling mountain of Anhui Province, and the lowest (49.43%) in Hubei Jiufengshan Forest Park. There were many arbuscles and vesicles in L. formosana root with even distribution, indicating that L. formosana was easy to be infected by AMF. 2) The number of AMF spores isolated from the soil samples was 86-275 spore•(50 g)-1 soil, and the average spore density was 166 spore•(50 g)-1 dry soil. The highest density was in the Jiling Mountain in Anhui [275 spore•(50 g)-1 soil] and the lowest density was in Huangshan in Anhui [86 spore•(50 g)-1 soil]. 3) A total of 46 species and 11 genera of AMF were identified through morphological identification from Anhui and Hubei, including 12 species of genus Glomus, 13 species of genus Acaulospora and 5 species of genus Scutellospora. These were dominant genus of AM fungi in the rhizosphere soil of L. formosana. 4) The content of the total glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) and easily extractable glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) were 1.01-2.01 mg•g-1 and 0.62-0.84 mg•g-1, respectively. 5) There were significant differences in the diversity index of AM fungi in rhizosphere soil of L. formosana (P < 0.05), and it was found that the Pielou index (1.04 ± 0.03) and Shannon index (3.55 ± 0.04) were the highest in Huangshan Academy of Forestry. 6) RDA analysis revealed that soil catalase activity, soil organic matter, soil pH and soil invertase activity were significantly correlated with AMF diversity (P < 0.05). Among them, soil pH and invertase activity had the greatest impact on AMF diversity. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the soil sucrase and total glomalin content (r = 0.705, P < 0.05). 【Conclusion】 This study for the first time revealed the distribution characteristics of AMF in the rhizosphere of L. formosana in Hubei and Anhui provinces. The diversity of AMF spores in rhizosphere soil is rich, and Glomus is the dominant genus. Combined with the distribution characteristics of AMF in the ecosystem, the study provides rich strain resources for the development of special AMF fertilizer for L. formosana. © 2021, Editorial Department of Scientia Silvae Sinicae. All right reserved.
