Open AccessArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth of pioneer tree species of tropical forests on savanna and tropical rainforest soils under nursery conditions
Author(s) -
Jonás ÁlvarezLopeztello,
Rafael F. del Castillo,
Celerino Robles,
Laura Verónica Hernández-Cuevas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
scientia fungorum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2594-1321
DOI - 10.33885/sf.2021.51.1296
Subject(s) - rainforest , tropical rainforest , tropics , pioneer species , biology , soil water , tropical climate , agroforestry , seedling , tropical savanna climate , ecology , agronomy , ecosystem , ecological succession
Background: Tropical rainforests and savannas are often spatially distributed at close distances. The combined effects of soil type and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might contribute to explain the preference of tropical rainforest tree species for forest areas over those of savannas. However, few studies have examined such effects on pioneer tropical tree species.
Objective: Evaluate the effects of soil type and inoculation with an AMF consortium on the growth of seedlings of pioneer tree species of tropical rainforest.
Methods: A factorial 2 x 2 experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of soil type (rainforest or savanna) and native AMF consortium on growth (height and stem diameter) of four native pioneer tree seedling species under tree nursery conditions.
Results and conclusions: The highest growth was detected on rainforest soils inoculated with AMF. Uninoculated plants growing on savanna soils rendered the lowest performance. AMF inoculation could be a valuable procedure in ecological restoration projects of tropical forests.