Arbuscular mycorrhizae and their role in plant restoration in native ecosystems

Abstract

There is high plant biodiversity in southern Florida, due to the floristic mixing of warm temperate Southeastern North America and tropical Caribbean. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were found in the roots of native plants in the families Anacardiaceae, Arecaceae (Palmae), Cactaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cycadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Rubiaceae, Simarubaceae and Smilacaeae that grow in the coastal maritime and inland hammocks of southern Florida. Seedlings of the following genera: Amorpha, Coccothrinax, Gymnanthes, Hamelia, Jacquemontia, Licaria, Nectandra, Opuntia, Picramnia, Psychotria, Rhus, Sabal, Serenoa and Zamia inoculated with AM fungi showed enhancement of growth and phosphorus uptake on local sandy, nutrient poor soils. Most native species were depend on AM fungi under natural conditions of poor or no soils, phosphorus limitations and often water stress. Restoration of endangered species of Amorpha (Fabaceae), Jacquemontia (Convolvulaceae), Opuntia (Cactaceae) and Pseudophoenix (Arecaceae) was considered using AM fungi. The symbiotic relationship between AM fungi and native plants is important in the low P ecosystem and also useful for restoration of native plants. © 2008 Springer Netherlands.