Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Rhizosphere Soil of Maize in Northern Xinjiang, China, and Evaluation of Inoculation Benefits of Three Strains

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which significantly enhances the absorption capacity of plant roots, forms a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with plants and is known as the "underground internet of plants". To explore the community characteristics, environmental driving factors, and growth-promoting effects of AMF on maize in saline-alkaline habitats, this research attempts a survey of the rhizosphere soil of saline-alkali maize fields in four areas of northern Xinjiang (20 samples). High-throughput sequencing and morphological methods were used to analyze the diversity of AMF, and the correlation analyses of Mantel and Pearson were used to explore the relationship between AMF and soil environmental factors. The results showed that eleven genera of AMF belonging to three orders and seven families were identified in the rhizosphere soil of maize in Xinjiang, and <i>Glomus</i> was the absolute dominant group. The relationship analysis of the environmental factors and diversity of AMF shows that total nitrogen, total potassium and acid phosphatase are the main factors affecting the community structure of AMF. Through spore isolation and pot experiments, <i>Rhizophagus intraradices</i>, <i>Acaulospora denticulata</i> and <i>Glomus melanosporum</i> were successfully screened and identified. Among them, <i>Rhizophagus intraradices</i>, which can effectively improve the plant biomass, promote the root growth and enhance the absorption of phosphorus and potassium nutrients, promoted the growth of maize remarkably. This study systematically revealed the diversity of AMF as an environmental driving mechanism as well as plant growth promoter, establishing it as a candidate for application in the maize rhizosphere in northern Xinjiang. This provides a theoretical basis for AMF resource development and agricultural application in this saline-alkali area.