Participation of plants of different mycotrophic status in the succession leading to "agrosteppe" formation

Abstract

An analysis is performed of the participation of plant species differing in mycotrophic status in succession leading to "agrosteppe" formation, i. e., purposefully initiated progressive succession of the steppe phytocenosis. The proportion of plant species obligatorily associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increases in the course of this succession, while the proportion of facultative mycotrophic species decreases. The ratio between the species of different mycotrophic status is stabilized after two years of succession, although both total number and composition of plant species continue to change during subsequent period. © 2012 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.