Funneliformis mosseae alters soil fungal community dynamics and composition during litter decomposition

Recent studies have indicated that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are able to influence litter decomposition by interacting with the soil fungal community. However, it remains unclear exactly which constituent groups of the soil fungal community respond to AMF during litter decomposition, and in what ways. To better understand this relationship, we investigated the effect of AMF on soil fungal communities in a greenhouse experiment. Our study found that the composition and richness of the fungal community, at higher taxonomical levels (e.g. phyla, order), remained stable across treatments. However, the relative abundance of some key genera including Mycena, Glomerella, Pholiotina, and Sistotrema were significantly affected by AMF inoculation. Soil fungal community structure was also altered by AMF inoculation during the later stages of litter decomposition. Our study provides new insights into understanding the interaction between AMF and soil fungal communities and reinforces the importance of AMF in soil nutrient cycling. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.