Romy Moukarzel1, Hayley J Ridgway2, Alexis Guerin-Laguette3, E Eirian Jones1. 1. Lincoln University, 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand. 2. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd, 7608, Canterbury, New Zealand. 3. Mycotree C/-Southern Woods Nursery, 8441, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Abstract
AIM: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are often regarded as non-specific symbionts, but some AMF communities show host preference in various ecosystems including vineyards. Grapevine plants are very responsive to AMF colonisation. Although these fungi have potentially significant applications for sustainable agricultural ecosystems, there is a gap in knowledge regarding AMF-grapevine interactions worldwide and especially in New Zealand. This study focused on identifying AMF taxa colonising grapevines in New Zealand vineyards and investigated the effect of grapevine rootstocks on AMF community diversity and composition. METHOD AND RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and trap cultures were used to characterise the AMF communities. Grapevine roots from three vineyards and 9 rootstocks were analysed by DGGE and used in trap cultures for AMF recovery. Trap cultures allowed the recovery of six AMF spore morphotypes that belonged to Ambispora sp., Claroideoglomus sp., Funneliformis sp., and Glomus spp. Bands excised, reamplified and sequenced from the DGGE were assigned to Glomus spp., Rhizophagus spp. and Claroideoglomus spp. The AMF community analyses demonstrated that rootstock significantly (p <0.05) influenced the AMF community composition in all sites. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that for a comprehensive identification of AMF both results from trap culture and molecular work were needed and that the rootstock cultivar was the main driver of the arbuscular mycorrhizal community colonising the roots. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides a firm foundation for future research exploring the beneficial use of AMF in enhancing grapevine production and sustainability. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AIM: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are often regarded as non-specific symbionts, but some AMF communities show host preference in various ecosystems including vineyards. Grapevine plants are very responsive to AMF colonisation. Although these fungi have potentially significant applications for sustainable agricultural ecosystems, there is a gap in knowledge regarding AMF-grapevine interactions worldwide and especially in New Zealand. This study focused on identifying AMF taxa colonising grapevines in New Zealand vineyards and investigated the effect of grapevine rootstocks on AMF community diversity and composition. METHOD AND RESULTS: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and trap cultures were used to characterise the AMF communities. Grapevine roots from three vineyards and 9 rootstocks were analysed by DGGE and used in trap cultures for AMF recovery. Trap cultures allowed the recovery of six AMF spore morphotypes that belonged to Ambispora sp., Claroideoglomus sp., Funneliformis sp., and Glomus spp. Bands excised, reamplified and sequenced from the DGGE were assigned to Glomus spp., Rhizophagus spp. and Claroideoglomus spp. The AMF community analyses demonstrated that rootstock significantly (p <0.05) influenced the AMF community composition in all sites. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that for a comprehensive identification of AMF both results from trap culture and molecular work were needed and that the rootstock cultivar was the main driver of the arbuscular mycorrhizal community colonising the roots. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides a firm foundation for future research exploring the beneficial use of AMF in enhancing grapevine production and sustainability. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.