Diversisporales

Diversisporales is an order of fungi within the phylum Glomeromycota. Members of this group are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that form mutualistic associations with the roots of most land plants, facilitating the uptake of nutrients such as phosphorus in exchange for carbon from the host plant. They are obligate symbionts, meaning their life cycle is closely tied to plant roots, and they reproduce primarily through spores rather than a known sexual cycle.

Taxonomy and diversity within Diversisporales include several families of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Notable families associated with this order include Diversisporaceae, Acaulosporaceae, Claroideoglomeraceae, Entrophosporaceae, and Ambisporaceae. Genera such as Diversispora, Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Entrophospora, and Ambispora fall within these families. The order is characterized by spores of diverse morphology, a feature reflected in the name Diversisporales, and by their shared symbiotic lifestyle.

Ecology and distribution: Diversisporales fungi are widespread in soils around the world, occupying a broad range of habitats from natural ecosystems to agricultural systems. In roots, they form intracellular structures called arbuscules that mediate nutrient exchange and influence plant health, nutrient cycling, and soil structure through extensive hyphal networks. Their associations can enhance plant nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and resistance to certain soil-borne pathogens, contributing to ecosystem productivity and resilience.

Phylogeny and research: Molecular phylogenetic studies support Diversisporales as a distinct lineage within Glomeromycota. Ongoing taxonomic revisions reflect advances in DNA sequencing and morphology-based classification, improving understanding of relationships among glomeromycete fungi.

Applications: Diversisporales species are studied for their potential to improve crop yields, soil health, and restoration of degraded lands through inoculation and management of arbuscular mycorrhizal associations.