Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a coastal wetland in Yucatan, Mexico

Background: The wetlands provide important ecosystem services, but also represent a limiting environment for the organisms which are distributed there. However, these limiting factors can be overcome thanks to the biotic interactions established by the organisms. Study species: Acoelorraphe wrightii is a palm inhabiting coastal wetlands and is found to be associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Question: The dynamic of the colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of A. wrightii roots was evaluated, as well as the production of spores and the richness of AM fungal species in A. wrightii rhizosphere. Study site: During the dry season (February-May), adult individuals of A. wrightii were selected in a wetland located in Yucatan, Mexico. Methods: Roots and rhizospheric soil were collected from the A. wrightii individuals collected in order to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization of the roots and to estimate the amount and identity of spores. Results: Colonization by AMF in A. wrightii roots was found between 24 and 67 %. Significant differences were found in percentage of colonization for the different months sampled. Number of spores showed no variation in the time, and 22 species of AMF were identified, the most represented being Glomeraceae. Conclusions: The colonization of A. wrightii roots by AM fungi throughout all the sampling months suggests that the interaction is important for the plant. A high richness of AMF species in its rhizosphere was found with the presence of some exclusive species at the beginning and end of the rainy season.