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Article

Seasonality of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Glomalin in Sodic Soils of Grasslands Under Contrasting Grazing Intensities

by
Ileana García
1,*,
Karla Cáceres-Mago
2 and
Alejandra Gabriela Becerra
2,*
1
Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, Buenos Aires C1405DJR, Argentina
2
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X5016GCN, Argentina
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Soil Syst. 2025, 9(3), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9030087 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 13 June 2025 / Revised: 24 July 2025 / Accepted: 1 August 2025 / Published: 5 August 2025

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) taxa, glomalin protein, and hyphal density are potential indicators of soil functionality of temperate grasslands in marginal environments subject to grazing over the years. This study evaluated how the AMF community composition, glomalin protein, and hyphal density vary in response to grazing intensity (low or high) and seasonality (spring and autumn) in sodic soils of Argentinian temperate grasslands. The AMF community was dominated by Glomeraceae species. Funneliformis geosporus and Glomus brohultii were the most abundant in both seasons and all grasslands. No AMF species were associated with a particular grazing intensity. However, Entrophospora etunicata, Glomus fuegianum, Septoglomus constrictum, and Acaulospora sp. occurred only in spring, and no species were exclusive to autumn. Hyphal density was highest in grasslands with low grazing intensity and can be considered an indicator of soil functionality. Glomalin protein was the highest in spring in all grasslands. The lower grazing intensity in grasslands with poor livestock control showed no changes in AMF diversity. The AMF community showed high adaptation to soil conditions, indicating high resilience. We concluded that longer periods of controlled grazing management are needed to improve soil conditions and, consequently, change the AMF species composition.
Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal community; glomalin protein; grazing; sodic soils; seasonality; temperate grasslands arbuscular mycorrhizal community; glomalin protein; grazing; sodic soils; seasonality; temperate grasslands

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MDPI and ACS Style

García, I.; Cáceres-Mago, K.; Becerra, A.G. Seasonality of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Glomalin in Sodic Soils of Grasslands Under Contrasting Grazing Intensities. Soil Syst. 2025, 9, 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9030087

AMA Style

García I, Cáceres-Mago K, Becerra AG. Seasonality of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Glomalin in Sodic Soils of Grasslands Under Contrasting Grazing Intensities. Soil Systems. 2025; 9(3):87. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9030087

Chicago/Turabian Style

García, Ileana, Karla Cáceres-Mago, and Alejandra Gabriela Becerra. 2025. "Seasonality of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Glomalin in Sodic Soils of Grasslands Under Contrasting Grazing Intensities" Soil Systems 9, no. 3: 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9030087

APA Style

García, I., Cáceres-Mago, K., & Becerra, A. G. (2025). Seasonality of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Glomalin in Sodic Soils of Grasslands Under Contrasting Grazing Intensities. Soil Systems, 9(3), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9030087

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