Human impact is rapidly changing vegetation globally. The effect of plant cover that no longer exists in a site may still affect the development of future vegetation. We focused on a little studied factor—arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus spore bank—and its effect on three test plant species. In a low Arctic field site, plots were maintained for 6 years, devoid of any vegetation or with a Solidago virgaurea monoculture cover. We analysed the AM fungal morphospecies composition and identified 21 morphospecies in the field plots. The AM morphospecies community was dominated by members of Acaulosporaceae. Monoculturing under low Arctic field conditions changed the soil AM spore community, which became dominated by Glomus hoi. We tested the soil feedback in the greenhouse and grew Solidago virgaurea, Potentilla crantzii and Anthoxanthum odoratum in the field soils from the plots without plant cover, covered with Solidago virgaurea or with intact vegetation. Our results suggest that monoculturing resulted in improved N acquisition by the monocultured plant species Solidago virgaurea which may be related to the AM fungus community. Our results show that a rich community of AM fungus spores may remain viable under field conditions for 6 years in the low Arctic. Spore longevity in field soil in the absence of any host plants differed among AM fungus species. We suggest that AM fungus spore longevity be considered an AM fungal life-history trait.

中文翻译：

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土壤遗产决定了低北极地区丛枝菌根孢子库和植物的表现。


人类的影响正在迅速改变全球植被。一个地点不再存在的植物覆盖的影响可能仍然会影响未来植被的发育。我们重点研究了一个小因素——丛枝菌根 (AM) 真菌孢子库——及其对三种测试植物物种的影响。在北极低洼地区，地块维持了 6 年，没有任何植被或只有一枝黄花单一栽培覆盖。我们分析了 AM 真菌形态种组成，并在田间图中鉴定出了 21 个形态种。 AM形态种群落以无茎孢科成员为主。低北极田间条件下的单一栽培改变了土壤 AM 孢子群落，其中以球囊霉 (Glomus hoi) 为主。我们测试了温室中的土壤反馈，并在没有植物覆盖、被一枝黄花覆盖或有完整植被的地块的田间土壤中种植了一枝黄花、委陵菜和玉竹。我们的结果表明，单一栽培导致了单一栽培植物物种一枝黄花对氮的吸收改善，这可能与 AM 真菌群落有关。我们的结果表明，在低北极地区，丰富的 AM 真菌孢子群落在野外条件下可以存活 6 年。在没有任何寄主植物的情况下，AM 真菌物种在田间土壤中的孢子寿命有所不同。我们建议将 AM 真菌孢子寿命视为 AM 真菌生活史特征。