Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Dark Septate Endophytes in the Roots of Lycium ruthenicum in the Desert Region of Northwest China

With the intensification of desertification in northwest China, drought has become a serious environmental problem restricting plant growth and ecological restoration. Recently, dark septate endophytes (DSEs) have attracted more attention because their ability to improve plants’ resistance drought. Here, we investigated DSE colonization species diversity roots Lycium ruthenicum collected from Anxi Minqin, during July, September, December 2019. This study aimed evaluate influence seasonality sampling sites on DSEs. In different seasons, varied with phenology L. ruthenicum. At sites, significantly differed. Four isolates were reported desert ecosystems for first time. The results showed microsclerotial was directly affected by changing while hyphal sites. soil organic carbon, pH, alkaline phosphatase, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen main predictors diversity. We conclude that significant spatial–temporal heterogeneity closely related factors. research provides basis further understanding functions DSEs application potential vegetative restoration agricultural cultivation drylands.