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种小球菌科仅代表其物种多样性的一小部分。目前，对丛枝菌根真菌（AMF, Glomeromycota）的分子生态群落分析大多缺乏物种水平的分辨率，而且所采用的方法往往存在较大的偏差。我们正在引入改进的方法来解决分子AMF监测的缺陷。为了了解厄瓜多尔原生树木中专性共生AMF的功能作用，并使AMF适用于再造林，我们将：1)对天然林幼苗中的AMF进行分子监测（基线数据）；2)定义在40 ~ 40年龄样地种植过的树木中建立的AMF（基线数据）；3)监测直接播种树幼苗（再造林）AMF演替；4)评价接种AMF在苗圃和田间提高树苗生长性能的潜力；5)描述AMF在苗圃应用的特点；6)研究生态作用，如耐热AMF是否在耐热蕨类植物中定植。AMF的演替将通过454FLX Titanium深度测序进行监测，并与天然林数据进行对比。对有效的再造林尝试有用的AMF的确定将有助于加速向自然、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.