Plant family identity drives arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore abundance and community structure in natural rangelands

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important components of belowground biotic networks, yet variation in AMF spore abundance and community structure among plant families in natural rangelands remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated AMF spore abundance, community composition, and rhizosphere soil properties across five plant families in a natural rangeland in northwestern Türkiye. Variation in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available potassium, CaCO₃ content, and AMF spore density was observed among the sampled plant groups. AMF spore density was highest in Asteraceae (609.8 spores 50 g⁻1 soil) and lowest in Urticaceae (77.6 spores 50 g⁻1 soil). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive association between AMF spore density and soil pH (r = 0.47) and negative associations with electrical conductivity (EC; r = − 0.49), available potassium (K; r = − 0.44), and total nitrogen (N; r = − 0.40). Acaulospora tuberculata, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Funneliformis geosporum, Glomus sp., and Rhizophagus clarus occurred in the rhizosphere soils of all five plant families, indicating broad distribution across the investigated host groups. Species richness was highest in Urticaceae, whereas Shannon diversity and evenness were highest in Lamiaceae; Fabaceae and Asteraceae showed lower diversity values. Jaccard similarity was highest between Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Overall, AMF spore abundance and community patterns varied among the sampled plant groups and were associated with rhizosphere soil conditions in the investigated rangeland.