The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic status of Populus euphratica , a drought resistant tree species from arid lands

In this study, we isolated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from rhizosphere of Populus euphratica , naturally occurred in Tarim River Basin. We found morphologically similar few AMF spores from rhizosphere of P . euphratica under drought stress. The average AMF spore densities were 53/50 and 32/50 g in air dried soil from rhizosphere of mature and seedling of P . euphratica , respectively. The AMF spores were simple and Glomus mosseae in nature, identified by traditional morphological methods and molecular techniques. The G . mosseae fungal spores formed mainly in three different types: alone in the soil, inside of the roots or sporangium. The hypha was single and funnel‐shaped at the site of attachment. By optical microscopic observation, the vesicular structures demonstrated a formation by AMF inside the roots of P . euphratica tree. The molecular analysis data showed that a mycorrhizal symbiont was established by G . mosseae associated with P . euphratica root. Moreover, the AMF colonization rate and the infection intensity were not significant high. Specifically, the average colonization frequency (F%) and mycorrhizal infection intensity (M%) were 8.45%, 2.9% for the mature, and 8.62%, 0.3% for the young seedlings of P . euphratica , respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.