Native communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Capsicum annuum L. respond to soil properties and agronomic management under field conditions

We examined the effects of agronomic management (low, moderate, and high inputs) and soil properties on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community structure collected from the rhizosphere of Capsicum annuum cultivated in six agroecosystems in Mexico. Chemical and physical soil parameters differed among agroecosystems. Native communities of AMF-morphospecies differed between agroecosystems depending on intensity of agronomic practice. In total 33 AMF-morphospecies were identified (11genera, and seven families). Soil P availability and pH negatively affected the distribution and abundance of the AMF species. High input management resulted in significant modifications in the composition and structure of the AMF communities. Agroecosystems with high or moderate input management showed 35% less AMF-morphospecies when compared to low input management systems. The most diverse AMF community was observed from agroecosystems with either moderate or low input management. Funneliformis geosporum, Claroideoglomus claroideum and C. luteum were the predominant species observed in this study. High similarity (>75%) in the structure of AMF communities among agroecosystems was found, which suggest that the observed differences between AMF communities from agroecosystems with high input management compared to that from low and moderate input management, may be due to changes in species composition.