Filling the Gaps: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Biodiversity in the Tropical Ecosystems

Abstract

For a long time it was inequitably assumed that Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi [AMF] was poorly represented in the tropics, so this area remained rather unexplored. However, recent research suggests that the tropics contain a treasure of unknown species of AMF. AMF are more widely distributed and can associate with a wide range of plant species [1-3]. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal [AM] symbioses can be formed with as many plant species as 250,000 [3]. To date, only 150-200 species of AM fungi have so far been distinguished on the basis of morphology [4]. However, DNA-based studies suggest that the true diversity of these symbionts may be much higher [5].