title: Root Age-Dependent Changes in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities Colonizing Roots of Panax ginseng.
abstract: In this study, we examined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community structure colonizing field-cultivated ginseng roots according of different ages, such as 1- to 5-year-old plant, collected from Geumsan-gun, Korea. A total of seven AMF species namely, Funnelliformis caledonium, F. moseae, Gigaspora margarita, Paraglomus laccatum, P. occultum, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Scutellospora heterogama were identified from the roots using cloning, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of the large subunit region in rDNA. AMF species diversity in the ginseng roots decreased with the increase in root age because of the decreased species evenness. In addition, the community structures of AMF in the roots became more uniform. These results suggest that the age of ginseng affects mycorrhizal colonization and its community structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju 363-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Yi-Jong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kil
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju 363-791, Korea. ; National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon 325-813, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Kyeong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Eo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju 363-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju 363-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Ahn-Heum
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Eom
keywords: AMF; Korean ginseng; LSU; Species diversity