Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)plays important role in nutrient absorption and ecological function of plants. Lycium barbarum in Ningxia is an indigenous tree of significant ecological and economic importance in the northwest region of China,and AMF of its root occupies unique niche and thus functions specially. Based on the amplicon high throughput sequencing,we investigated the diversity of AMF in the root systems of Ningxia L. barbarum from different varieties and cultivation regions,aiming to lay a foundation for developing AMF agent of Ningxia L. barbarum. Root and fresh fruits samples were collected from 4 varieties “Ningqi 7”,“Ningqi 9”,“Mengqi 1”,“Mengqi 2” and main variety “Ningqi 7” in 4 cultivation regions(Zhongning county and Haiyuan county of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Jingyuan county of Gansu province,Wulate county of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). PCR amplification was conducted using AMF specific primers,then Illumina Miseq sequencing was performed,and the diversity of AMF was compared and analyzed. Meanwhile the contents of polysaccharides,total flavonoids,betaine and other active components in the fresh fruits were determined,and correlation analysis of the AMF related to the active component content was conducted. Total of 49 AMF OTUs were detected,belonging to 3 orders,3 families and 3 genera,with Glomus as the most dominant genus. Glomus sp.VTX00113 is the common species in 4 varieties and 4 regions,which also was the dominant species of “Ningqi 7”,“Mengqi 1”,“Mengqi 2” and Haiyuan and Gansu region. However,the dominant species in “Ningqi 9” was Glomus sp.VTX00156. The dominant species from the Inner Mongolia and Zhongning were the not-identified-yet unclassified_OTU3 and unclassified_OTU39,respectively. There were significant differences in α-diversity among different varieties,that of “Ningqi 7” was the highest,and that of “Mengqi 2” was the lowest. On the contrary,there was no significant difference among cultivation regions. The proportions of Glomus sp.VTX00113 across the 4 regions was of significant difference(P<0.001);however,no species was in significant differences among 4 varieties. There was no significant difference in terms of the β-diversity for AMF community across the 4 varieties(P=0.123),but significant difference among the 4 regions(P=0.001). There was no correlation between fruit polysaccharide content and AMF. Glomus sp. VTX00113 was significantly positively correlated with betaine,and unclassified_OTU14 was only negatively correlated with betaine content in different samples of varieties. Glomus.sp.VTX00393 was significantly positively correlated with total flavonoids in different varieties. Glomus.sp.VTX00247 was also significantly positively correlated with total flavonoids only in different regions. L. barbarum varieties affect α-diversity and dominant species of root AMF communities,but not β-diversity. Cultivation region affects β-diversity and dominant species,but not α-diversity. AMF is correlated with betaine and total flavonoids content,but not with the polysaccharide content.
