Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus identity and diversity influence subtropical tree competition

AM fungi significantly promoted a competitive advantage for tree seedlings of Rhus chinensis over both Celtis sinensis and Cinnamomum camphora seedlings. Furthermore, the extent to which AM fungi affected interspecific plant competition was dependent on AM fungus identity, and the effect of AM fungus diversity on interspecific plant competition may derive from the most beneficial AM fungal species. Nm = non-mycorrhizal control, De = Diversispora eburnea, Cl = Claroideoglomus lamellosum, Fm = Funneliformis mosseae, Ds = Diversispora sp., and Mix = mixture of the four fungal species.100