Joint research project

Ecological characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi communities as ecosystem indicators for arid and semiarid Argentinean soils

Project leaders
Erica Lumini, Monica Alejandra Lugo
Agreement
ARGENTINA - CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Call
CNR/CONICET biennio 2017-2018 2017-2018
Department
Biology, agriculture and food sciences
Thematic area
Biology, agriculture and food sciences
Status of the project
New

Research proposal

State of art and research challenge

Over 40% of the earth's land surface are drylands, encompassing arid, semiarid, and dry subhumid climatic zones that are home to approximately 2.5 billion people (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Livelihood sustainability in these regions is threatened by a complex and interrelated range of social, economic, political, and environmental changes that present significant challenges to researchers, policy makers, and, above all, rural land users 1.
Dynamic, ecological, and environmental change models 2 suggest that climate change-induced drought events may enhanced this problem, pushing dryland systems to cross biophysical thresholds, causing a long-term drop in agricultural productivity. These erosion processes (desertification/soils water erosion) are particularly exacerbated in arid and semiarid areas representing for Argentina the 75% of territory which however contribute to 50% of national agricultural production.
In this context the selected study areas of Puna (Salta, Jujuy) and Espinal (San Luis Province), although being unique environments (with their own endemic vegetation) represent the most eroded sites. Here erosion and desertification are affecting vegetation cover causing the loss of biodiversity, the impoverishment of soil quality and the consequent socio-economic deterioration of ecosystem services provision for its inhabitants.
Soil, in fact, is one nonrenewable resource and an important reservoir of biodiversity 3 which is under a huge environmental anthropogenic pressure caused by the increase of cultivated areas and intensity of agronomic exploitation and other natural disturbances. Underground communities are actively involved in the matter and energy cycles, and are important shaper agents of the outlining communities and ecosystem processes. The great biodiversity living in soil environments is composed mainly by microorganisms that play essential roles in ecosystem functioning such as biogeochemical cycling, plant productivity or climate regulation 4. Among the diverse and abundant soil microorganisms, fungi carry out important ecological functions, have large diversity and specialization and are also considered excellent bioindicators 5,6. In particular, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) which form mutualistic symbiotic associations with the vast majority of plants in natural and agricultural ecosystems, improve plants ability to acquire mineral nutrients and water7 especially in nutrient-poor or stressed soils. Even if most ecosystems harbor diverse AMF communities 8,9 ,that enhance plant productivity 10, so far, the information related to AMF biodiversity comes predominantly from the Northern hemisphere, mainly North America and Europe, and few reports are from the Southern hemisphere, and fewer from South America 12,13,14 Therefore it is important to investigate Southern Hemisphere ecosystems like the Argentinean one in order to increase our knowledge on ecological characteristic of AMF communities associated with more fragile environments such as those of Puna and Espinal subjected to natural disturbances (fire/drought) or the increasing of agriculture practices. Many studies demonstrate that anthropogenic pressure and different land uses affect the AMF diversity which could be either reduced or enlarged 15,16,17,18 along with soil type that can also have a strong influence on AMF, modifying their function 19 and exerting greater effect than agricultural practices 20,21 On the other hand AMF diversity can promote plant productivity, against fluctuating environmental conditions11, and it is worth mentioning that the promotion of plant growth and the increase in crop quality, avoiding or reducing the use of fertilizers, are some of the ecosystem services provided by AMF22. Despite the significant relationship between AMF diversity, land use and ecosystem services that derive from them, there are very few studies focused in ecosystem services of AMF in Latin America 23,24.
The aim of this proposal is to assess an ecological characterization of AMF communities in arid and semiarid soils from selected sites in Argentina and to compare them with similar data previously obtained in Italy. The effects of different land uses on AMF diversity and resilience to agronomic disturbances will be investigated in order to identify AMF species which can be used as soil indicators of ecosystem health and management. The final goal is to use all the knowledge acquired to develop local agriculture management programs for a more sustainable use of arid and semiarid soils in ecosystems with similar characteristics both in Argentina and Italy.

1 Reynolds et al. 2007 Science 316:847-851
2 Joubert et al. 2008 J. Arid Environ 72:2201-2210
3 van der Heijden et al. 2015 New Phytol. 205:1406-1423
4 Griffiths & Philippot 2013 FEMS Microbiol Rev 37:112-129
5 Lemanceau et al. 2015 Agr Sust Develop 35:67-81
6 Orgiazzi et al. 2012 Plos One 7 (4)
7 Smith & Read 2008 Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Ed 3. Academic Press, New York
8 Lumini et al. 2010 Environ Microbiol 12:2165-2179
9 Öpik et al. 2008 New Phytol 179:867-876
10 Wagg et al. 2011 Ecology 92:1303-13
12 De Souza et al. 2008 Chap.15 Biodiversidade do Solo em Ecosistemas Brasileiros. Moreira, Siqueira& Brusssard Eds UFLA, Lavras,483-536
13 Öpik et al. 2013 Mycorrhiza 23:411-430
14 Kivlin et al. 2011 Soil Biol Biochem 43:2294-2303
15 Oehl et al. 2003 App Environ Microbiol 69 (5): 2816-24
16 Oehl et al. 2005. New Phytol 165: 273-283.
17 Gosling et al. 2006. Agr Ecosys & Environ 113:17-35
18 Borriello et al .2012. Biol Ferti Soils 48, 911-922.
19 Oehl et al. 2010.Soil Biol Biochem 42:724-738
20 Jansa et al. 2014. Mol Ecol 23:2118-35
21 Verbruggen et al. 2013 New Phytol 197:1104-1109
22 Gianinazzi et al. 2010 Mycorrhiza 20:519-530
23 Cofré et al. 2013 III CONEBIOS Bedano et al Eds UniRío Editora, 1-5
24 Longo et al. 2016 Chap 7 Recent Advances on Mycorrhizal Fungi Pagano Ed Springer, Berlin, Switzerland, 81-90

Research goals

The aim of this proposal is to assess an ecological characterization of AMF communities from selected sites subjected to different land uses in Argentina and use all the knowledge acquired to develop local agriculture management programs for a more sustainable use of arid and semiarid soils in Latin American and European environments.

In order to perform, develop and carry out these objectives this work plan proposes the following lines/focus of research:
-Identification and characterization of AMF communities in natural and agricultural Argentine ecosystems (forest, grassland and annual crops) by morphological and molecular methods.
-Assessment of AMF species, adapted to arid and semiarid soils, useful as indicators of ecosystem health and management: from undisturbed natural ecosystems to agro-ecosystems where removal of the aerial part of the vegetation cover and/or agricultural practices as tillage could exert strong effects.
- Evaluation of AMF communities' resilience to different agricultural practices in order to possibly address the potential ecosystem services derived from the AMF diversity in the context of sustainable management and land use.
- Promotion to local farmers of both countries of knowledge and understanding of the key roles played by this important functional group of soil microorganism to integrate soil biological management practices as part of their agricultural and sustainable livelihood strategies.

IT=Italy; RA=Argentina; WP= Workpackage

Last update: 29/03/2024