Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in pasture areas in the Serra do Itajaí National Park

Abstract

As obligate biotrophs, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Phylum Glomeromycota) may be directly affected by deforestation. The present study evaluated the effect of forest conversion into pastures on AMF diversity within the Serra do Itajaí National Park (Santa Catarina, Brazil). Soil samples were collected during two seasons (spring and autumn) from four areas: nati­ve forest (NF); two pastures undergoing recovery through application of brushwood (PB) and perch (PP) techniques, respectively; and an untreated pasture (UP). AMF spores were extracted from soil through wet sieving and decanting. Species were identified based on the morphology of the spores. In total, 33 AMF species were observed, distributed into six families and 11 genera. The best-represented genera were Acaulospora and Glomus, with 14 and 8 species, respectively. Conversion of forests into pastures did not affect mean species richness of AMF between the areas, nor between the seasons. However, the total number of species was higher in the native forest, indicating the negative effect of deforestation on AMF community diversity in the evaluated pasture areas. AMF species diversity was also greater during autumn.