Relationship between Soil Fungi and Seedling Density in the Vicinity of Adult Conspecifics in an Arid Desert Forest

Research Highlights: 1. Soil fungi have a higher influence on seedling density compared to soil environmental factors; 2. Host-specific pathogens and beneficial affect seeding via different influencing mechanisms. Background Objectives: The growth development of seedlings are the key processes that forest regeneration maintain community dynamics. However, factors around their adult conspecifics not clear in arid desert forests. Probing intrinsic relations among fungi, (pH, water content, salinity, nutrition), will improve our understanding provide theoretical basis for management protection. Materials Methods: Four experimental plot types, depending distance conspecifics, were set an forest. factors, diversity composition fungal community, seedlings’ height measured four mutual analyzed. Results: Seedling as well varied significantly types (p < 0.05). especially pH, had significant influences community. contribution (72.61%) variation was much than (27.39%). detrimental fungi. Conclusions: mostly affected distribution vicinity adults mainly influenced by while periphery area