The role of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in the establishment of rainforest tree seedlings, and the application of AM fungi for reforestation approaches

所描述的215种球孢菌门只代表了它们物种多样性的一小部分。到目前为止，丛枝菌根真菌(AMF，球菌门)的分子生态群落分析大多缺乏物种水平的分辨率，而且往往受到所用方法的强烈偏差。我们正在引入改进的方法来解决分子AMF监测的缺陷。为了了解专性共生AMF在厄瓜多尔本土树木中的功能作用，并使AMF应用于造林，我们将：1)对AMF在天然林幼苗中进行分子监测(基线数据)；2)确定AMF在4年生样地以前种植的树木中建立的AMF(基线数据)；3)监测AMF在直播树苗中的演替(重新造林)；4)评估接种AMF对改善苗圃和田间树苗性能的潜力；5)表征苗圃应用的AMF；6)调查生态作用，例如AMF是否在耐热的蕨类植物上定居。AMF的演替将由454FLX钛深测序监测，并与天然森林数据进行比较。AMF的确定有助于有效地重新造林，这将有助于加快向自然、多样化森林的缓慢演替。

The 215 described species of Glomeromycota represent only a small fraction of their species diversity. Up to now, molecular ecological community analyses on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) mostly were lacking species level resolution, and they were often strongly biased by the methods used. We are introducing improved methods to solve the pitfalls of molecular AMF monitoring. To understand functional roles of the obligate symbiotic AMF in native Ecuadorian trees and to make AMF applicable in reforestation, we will: 1) perform molecular monitoring of AMF in natural forest seedlings (baseline data); 2) define the AMF established in previously planted trees in >4 years old plots (baseline data); 3) monitor the AMF succession in direct seeded tree seedlings (reforestation); 4) evaluate the potential of AMF inoculation for improving the performance of tree seedlings in the nursery and field; 5) characterise AMF for nursery application; 6) investigate ecological roles, e.g. whether heat resistant AMF colonise heat resistant bracken fern. The succession of AMF will be monitored by 454FLX Titanium deep sequencing, and compared to natural forest data. The identification of AMF useful for efficient reforestation attempts will help to speed-up the slow succession towards a natural , diverse forest.