A six-species arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal synthetic community assembled from southern-Spain isolates and followed for three years in soil mesocosms designed to mimic a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem. The mesocosms used Retama sphaerocarpa, Lavandula latifolia, Thymus mastichina, and Rosmarinus officinalis as monoculture or pairwise plant covers while tracking AM fungal root colonization by nested PCR-TTGE of SSU rDNA and rhizosphere spore morphotypes every three months. The abstract reports species-specific establishment, persistence, and sporulation trajectories, with Septoglomus constrictum showing the most consistent persistence and sporulation under the semi-arid Mediterranean conditions.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
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| Rhizophagus clarus | NCBITaxon:94130 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Septoglomus constrictum | NCBITaxon:1133423 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Funneliformis coronatum — ontology label: Funneliformis coronatus | NCBITaxon:1117309 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Rhizophagus intraradices | NCBITaxon:4876 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Funneliformis mosseae | NCBITaxon:27381 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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| Septoglomus viscosum | NCBITaxon:1316151 · TaxonMech · TraitMech | N/A | |
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Ecological Interactions
The graph shows only explicitly linked interaction participants. Community members without an asserted participant link are omitted; membership alone does not imply an interaction.
AM Fungal Establishment and Sporulation Trajectory
The initially six-species AM fungal SynCom showed species-specific root-detection and rhizosphere-spore trajectories over three years of quarterly sampling in planted mesocosms. S. constrictum spores increased across plant-cover treatments; R. clarus and F. coronatum became undetectable in the spore pool, while F. mosseae and S. viscosum remained at low spore density. Initial membership does not mean all six persisted equally. Pooled root PCR-TTGE gives qualitative occurrence, not a quantitative root-to-spore abundance comparison; undetectable spores do not establish extinction from roots. The abstract reports limited plant-cover influence, not its complete absence or competitive exclusion. Named participants are the initial fungal roster; plants are external hosts.
Participating Taxa: Rhizophagus clarus, Septoglomus constrictum, Funneliformis coronatum, Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae, Septoglomus viscosum
Biological Processes:
- symbiotic process (GO:0044403 · PathwayMech)
Evidence
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PMID:42661004 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Changes in the AM SynCom, both colonizing plant roots and the spores in the rhizosphere, were monitored every three months over three years."
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PMID:42661004 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Fungi colonizing roots were identified through nested PCR-TTGE of the SSU rDNA, while AM fungal spores were quantified based on morphotype."
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PMID:42661004 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Results indicate that plant species composition exerted only a limited influence on the AM fungal community structure, whereas pronounced species-specific differences in establishment, persistence, and sporulation shaped community trajectories over time."
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PMID:42661004 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Septoglomus constrictum showed increasing spore abundance and specific density across all plant cover types, while other species (R. clarus, F. coronatum) became undetectable in the spore pool or maintained a low spore density (F. mosseae, S. viscosum)."
Knowledge gaps & discussions (3)
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN What isolate-level designations, initial spore counts or proportions, and mesocosm inoculation procedures were used for the six arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species?
The PubMed abstract lists the six species and states that all were isolated from southern Spain, but it does not report strain or isolate identifiers, the starting proportions, or the physical inoculation protocol for the mesocosms.
Attaches to: taxonomy, engineering_design, cultivation_setup
1 evidence item(s)
The initial AM SynCom was composed of six species (Rhizophagus clarus, Septoglomus constrictum, Funneliformis coronatum, R. intraradices, F. mosseae and S. viscosum), all isolated from southern Spain.
Names the six starting species while leaving isolate and inoculation details unresolved.
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN Which soil source, mesocosm dimensions, water regime, and sampling schedule details defined the semi-arid Mediterranean mesocosm?
The PubMed abstract identifies a soil mesocosm designed to mimic semi-arid Mediterranean conditions and reports sampling every three months over three years, but does not provide enough protocol detail to curate growth_media composition, mesocosm geometry, or watering and harvest parameters.
Attaches to: environment_term, modeled_environment, cultivation_setup
1 evidence item(s)
A mesocosm system was designed to mimic the environmental conditions of a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem, allowing the assessment of changes in AM fungal establishment, persistence, and sporulation within the SynCom.
Supports the mesocosm context while leaving the detailed physical and environmental recipe unresolved.
KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN What explains the different root-occurrence and spore trajectories?
Root colonization supports the broad symbiotic-process context; the abstract does not establish reciprocal fitness, competition, or a causal sequence among species. Pooled PCR-TTGE cannot quantitatively compare intraradical occurrence with spores. Preserve the two existing inoculum/protocol gaps and prior #862/#863 fixes. #1589 bounds the current node. Full text is subscription content; only the complete primary abstract and publisher preview were read, not main methods, separate supplement or figure pixels. No arrows added.
Attaches to: ecological_interactions#AM Fungal Establishment and Sporulation Trajectory
External Resources
| Name | Repository | Resource ID |
|---|---|---|
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PubMed record for Cornejo et al. 2026
PubMed record for the Mycorrhiza article describing the long-term southern-Spain arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal SynCom mesocosm. |
OTHER | PMID:42661004 |
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DOI landing page for the AM fungal SynCom article
DOI landing page for the Mycorrhiza article describing the long-term arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal SynCom mesocosm. |
OTHER | doi:10.1007/s00572-026-01304-0 |
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Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
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| Southern-Spain plant-cover design | four plant species as monocultures and all pairwise combinations | N/A |
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| Three-year quarterly SynCom monitoring | every three months over three years | N/A |
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| Septoglomus constrictum persistence | N/A | |
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