Rhizosphere Rhizoplane and Root Fungi ITS1 Waseca, MN, Corn-Soybean Long-term Rotation Study

The goal of this study was to identify patterns of abundance of nematophagous fungi in rhizospheres, rhizoplanes, and roots in a corn-soybean agroecosystem. Relationships between specific nematophagous guilds (nematode-trapping fungi, nematode endoparasites, and nematode egg parasites) and corn-soybean crop sequences and soil density of the soybean cyst nematode were examined. Additionally, patterns of abundance and diversity of fungi falling into various taxonomic groups and trophic modes were examined. Results of this study will be used to better understand the role of crop sequences, including annual rotation and long-term monoculture, in shaping root-associated fungal communities of corn and soybeans.