Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Brazilian ecosystems.

Among fungi associated with vascular plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most ubiquitous organisms in all terrestrial ecosystems, forming the arbuscular endomycorrhizal associations with plant roots. A brief description of this association and the current taxonomy of its fungal component are given. An analysis of AMF diversity in different Brazilian ecosystems is presented, providing a list of species so far detected in surveys and establishing some patterns of distribution for species and families. The relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem productivity is reviewed, and the management practices affecting mycorrhizal fungal communities are discussed.