Tempo-spatial dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under clonal plant Psammochloa villosa Trin. Bor in Mu Us sandland

Tempo-spatial dynamics of AM fungi within the rhizome system of Psammochloa villosa (Poaceae) were investigated in Mu Us sandland, northwest China. Soil samples in the annual and perennial ramet rhizospheres of P. villosa were collected in 2007. AM fungal percent colonization reached maximal values in the rainy season and spore number in the dry season. Spore number exhibited positive correlation with soil pH and available phosphorous (P) (P < 0.01), and negative correlation with available nitrogen (N) (P < 0.05). Vesicular, arbuscular, hyphal and total colonization were positively correlated with soil organic matter and available P (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with available N (P < 0.01). Fourteen species of AM fungi in four genera were isolated. The same AM fungal taxa were found in the annual and perennial ramet rhizospheres, although the last ones had higher fungal colonization and spore number. A high Shannon-Weiner diversity index of AM fungi was observed. Spore number and species richness indicated that Glomus was the predominant AM fungi, especially the small-spored taxa. AM fungal dynamics under P. villosa are highly seasonal: different aged ramets and nutrient availability have effects on AM fungal development and abundance in Mu Us sandland.