Biodiversity of soil samples in Vojvodina Province

The biochemical activity of microorganisms affects the pedogenetic process and thus participates in the creation and maintenance of soil fertility. It is likely that we currently know at least 30% of the total diversity of soil fungi. This research contributes to a better knowledge of the biodiversity and the mycobiota present in soil samples of different types in Vojvodina Province (Serbia). Soil samples of different soil types and different soil management were collected in 2012 and 2013, at totally 104 locations in Vojvodina Province. The representative soil samples were taken from the surface layer (0–20 cm depth) using soil probe. The particle-plating method on selective water agar (WA) media amended with streptomycin was used for fungal isolation. A total of 20 soil pieces (0.0020 g of soil dry weight) per sample were analysed after seven days of incubation at room temperature (25–28°C). The emerging fungal colonies were observed microscopically and transferred to suitable media for further analysis and identification according to the keys of Leslie and Summerell (2006) and Watanabe (2010). Fungal incidence (%) in samples was calculated as number of one species fungal colonies registered in the sample divided with number of total fungal colonies registered in the sample, and multiplied with 100. Frequency (%) of fungi identified was calculated as number of soil pieces in which species occurred divided with total number of soil pieces analysed, and multiplied with 100. Totally, 49 different species was registered and grouped in 29 genera. The most common soil fungi identified were organic matter decomposers, but there were many phytopathogenic fungal species such as Alternaria sp., Acremonium sp., Bipolaris sp., Dreschlera sp., Fusarium spp. (11 different species), Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium echinulatum, etc. A few species were isolated that are known to be good antagonists to phytopathogenic species and usable for biological control Trichoderma spp., Gliocladium sp. and Penicillium spp. Species with the highest frequencies were: Fusarium oxysporum – registered in 95.2% samples, F. solani – 89.4%, Aspergillus sp. – 53.9% and Alternaria sp. – 47.1% . The lowest frequency (0.96%) was registered in 12 species: Aspergillus fumigatus, Curvularia sp., Epicoccum sp., Geotrichum sp., Gliocladium roseum, Myrothecium sp., M. verrucaria, Pythium echinulatum, Sporotrichum sp., Trichoderma sp., Trichothecium sp., Ulocladium sp., and Dematophora sp. Species incidences varied depending on sample, but the lowest incidence (2.08%) were registered for species Fusarium oxysporum, F. tricinctum, F. verticillioides, Mucor sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Trichoderma sp. 2 at location Susek, while the highest incidences were registered for F. oxysporum at location Karlovčić – 76.47% and for F. solani at location Sremska Mitrovica - 59.09%. Fungal characterization of different soil types provides important information relating to soil fertility and plant growth, especially in agricultural regions as Vojvodina Province is.