title: Diversity of root-associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a rubber tree plantation chronosequence in Northeast Thailand.
abstract: Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is of major economic importance in Southeast Asia and for small land holders in Thailand in particular. Due to the high value of latex, plantations are expanding into unsuitable areas, such as the northeast province of Thailand where soil fertility is very low and therefore appropriate management practices are of primary importance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) contribute to plant growth through a range of mechanisms and could play a key role in a more sustainable management of the rubber plantations. We described the diversity of AMF associated with rubber tree roots in Northeast Thailand in relation to tree age and soil parameters along a chronosequence of rubber tree plantations. Cassava fields were included for comparison. Rubber tree and cassava roots harbored high diversity of AMF (111 Virtual Taxa, VT), including 20 novel VT. AMF VT richness per sample was consistently high (per site mean 16 to 21 VT per sample) along the chronosequence and was not related to soil properties. The composition of AMF communities differed between cassava and rubber tree plantations and was influenced by soil texture and nutrient content (sand, K, P, Ca). AMF community composition gradually shifted with the age of the trees. Our results suggest that the high diversity of AMF in this region is potentially significant for maintaining high functionality of AMF communities.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment - Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia. lherrman@deakin.edu.au.|CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, Land Development Department - Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. lherrman@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment - Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia.|CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, Land Development Department - Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lesueur
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment - Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Lambert
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bräu
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Teele
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jairus
authors.affiliation: IRD, UMR IEES, Land Development Department - Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robain
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, 2 place Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.affiliation: Land Development Department - Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wanpen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wiriyakitnateekul
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Street, 51005, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Maarja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Öpik
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D028482:Hevea / Q000382:microbiology*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013785:Thailand
keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Chronosequence; Community; Diversity; Hevea brasiliensis; Rubber tree