DYNAMICS OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND DARK SEPTATE ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI UNDER THE CANOPY OF CARAGANA KORSHINSKII KOM

Root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) fungi in Caragana korshinskii Kom were investigated in a desert ecosystem of northwestern China. AM fungi colonization was significantly correlated with sampling month and plot, but not with soil depth. AM spore density was significantly correlated with sampling month, plot and soil depth. DSE hyphal colonization was only significantly correlated with sampling plot. Besides, DSE fungal colonization was relatively lower compared with AM fungi. Temporal and spatial dynamics of AM and DSE fungi were analyzed, the results showed that DSE fungal dynamics was similar to AM fungi, and both hyphal colonization of AM and DSE fungi were highest in October and with no significant difference (p < 0.05) in soil depth. The results of correlation analysis between soil factors and fungi demonstrated that AM colonization and spore density were significantly (positively/negatively) correlated with edaphic factors, while DSE fungi were influenced by edaphic factors lower than AM fungi.