Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve vigor and reduce susceptibility of hosts challenged by root pathogens. Salvia miltiorrhiza, native to China and Japan, is highly valued for its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. To elucidate species composition and diversity of AM fungi associated withS.miltiorrhiza, we collected soil samples from the rhizosphere of S. miltiorrhiza in Shatou, Zhongzhijidi, Qicun, and Qizhou in Anguo City of Hebei Province in August 2008 and 2009. A total of 24 AM fungal species belonging to four genera were isolated, of which 16 belonged to Glomus, 5 belonged to Acaulospora, 2 were Scutellosporaunique to Qizhou, and 1 belonged to Entrophospora only found in Shatou. Glomuswas the dominant genus with a frequency of 100% occurrence and a relative abundance of 76.4% in the four sites. Glomus aggregatum was the dominant species. Maximum spore density was 77.55 degrees per soil sample and maximum colonization rate was 72.72%. In Zhongzhijidi spore density and species richness decreased with soil available P and N, organic matter and increasing pH. We found a significant difference in AM fungal composition between Zhongzhijidi and other sites. Shannon-Wiener indices at the four sites listed in descending order were: Qicun, Qizhou, Shatou and Zhongzhijidi. Our results provide some of the first descriptions of the abundant AM fungal species associated withS. miltiorrhiza.

Key words: frequency, relative abundance, species diversity, soil factors, Salvia miltiorrhiza