The Community of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sugarcane Rhizosphere Soils in Guangxi, China

In order to analyze the community of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere soil and roots of sugarcane in Guangxi, China, this study analyzed the 18S rDNA gene sequences, soil physicochemical properties, root mycorrhizal colonization, and correlation of soil factors in three types of soil, lateritic red soil, latosol soil, and red soil. The results showed that a total of 24 species were identified, belonging to 12 genera and 7 families, among which the family Glomeraceae contained the most species with 5 genera and 10 species, followed by Diversisporaceae (1 genus and 2 species), Acaulosporaceae (1 genus and 1 species), Gigasporaceae (2 genera and 2 species), Claroideoglomeraceae (1 genus and 5 species), Archaeosporaceae (1 genus and 2 species), and Paraglomaceae (1 genus and 2 species). The dominant family and genus in the three types of soil were Glomeraceae and Rhizophagus, respectively. The species richness and Shannon diversity index of AMF were the highest in red soil, while the lowest in latosol soil. However, eleven species of AMF were identified in the roots of sugarcane from the three soil types. At the taxonomic level, the genus Glomus and Acaulospora were found in sugarcane roots from the three types of soil, while the genera Claroideoglomus, Acaulospora, and Paraglomus were only found in the roots from lateritic red soil. The genus Diversispora was found only in the roots from lateritic red soil and latosol soil. The genus Glomus is dominant in all the root samples. The physicochemical properties of the three soil types were not significantly correlated with the species richness of AMF. The root colonization rate of AMF was positively correlated with soil pH, while negatively correlated with the organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus of soils except for the organic matter content of lateritic red soil. These findings suggest that sugarcane roots have a relatively diverse AMF community under natural conditions, which may play an important ecological role in the growth of sugarcane.