Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth on serpentine soils

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate fungi (root symbionts) of the phylum of Glomeromycota that associated with 70-90% of land's plants. AMF are found in many types of soils and ecosystems. AMF can colonize plant roots on serpentine soils, and 11 AMF genera and Glomeraceae as dominant family are found. Diversity of AMF on serpentine soil is influenced by soil chemical properties (metal content, Ni and Mg/Ca ratio), plant species, and vegetation types as well as AMF types. Inoculation of AMF improved growth, biomass, and nutrient uptake (especially P) for sensitive plant and nickel accumulators. Ni uptake by inoculated plants is inconsistent, showing that AMF reduced Ni in sensitive plant tissues. Otherwise, AMF increased Ni uptake in hyperaccumulator plants. Effectiveness of AMF is determined by plant species and AMF. AMF colonization is essential for vegetation successional acceleration and revegetation success in nickel post-mining land. AMF are potential to be developed as a biological fertilizer to support revegetation of nickel post-mining land on serpentine soil.