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Effect of Sterilization on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Activity and Soil Nutrient Status

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Abstract

The purposes of this study are to evaluate the effect of sterilization on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal activity and soil nutrient status, and to determine the time needed to eliminate the colonization capability of existing AM fungi, minimize changes in soil nutrient status, and save time and energy needed to create sterile soil samples for AM inoculation. The effects of autoclaving (121 °C, 0.1 Mpa) and heating (180 °C) for 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 h on colonization capability, germination, and viability of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis were investigated. The effects of both sterilization methods on pH and on concentrations of ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, and organic matter in soil samples 0.1 m thick were compared. For sterilization of longer than 1 h, both autoclaving and heating reduced colonization to less than 0.1% and depressed germination rates and the viability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi spores, but increased concentrations of soil macronutrients. Autoclaving for 0.5 h was sufficient to eliminate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization but heating required at least 1 h. Within 1 h, the influence of both autoclaving and heating on soil nutrient status was limited and acceptable. For the most effective investment of time and energy, arbuscular mycorrhizal-free soil 0.1 m thick can be generated with 0.5 to 1 h of autoclaving (121 °C, 0.1 MPa) or 1 h of heating (180 °C).

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. María de la Luz Mora, the Editor-in-Chief of this journal and three anonymous reviewers for their instructive advice and useful suggestions on academic aspects.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Youth Innovation Talents Project of Colleges and Universities in Guangdong Province (2018KQNCX015), Program for Changjiang Scholars, and Innovative Research Team in University of China (IRT1035).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China

    Wentao Hu, Hui Chen & Ming Tang

  2. Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, People’s Republic of China

    Wentao Hu, Hui Chen & Ming Tang

  3. College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Suzhen Wei

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  1. Wentao Hu
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  2. Suzhen Wei
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Correspondence to Wentao Hu or Ming Tang.

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Hu, W., Wei, S., Chen, H. et al. Effect of Sterilization on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Activity and Soil Nutrient Status. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 20, 684–689 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00156-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00156-2

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