Underground Explorers

Can Gio mangrove forest covers a natural area of 70,445.20 hectares. In light of current climate change, the role and benefits of mangrove forests are becoming increasingly valuable and practical. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent a symbiotic association between plants and root fungi that is very common in nature. This demonstrates the intimate interaction between AMF and the microbial community, with the composition of AMF influencing both the function and the response of species to current climate change conditions. Thirty soil samples will be collected from Can Gio, and each soil sample will be used to isolate mycorrhizal spores. All collected spores will then be subjected to DNA extraction using the Qiagen DNA extraction kit, following the manufacturer’s protocol. The Small Subunit (SSU) gene region will be amplified for metabarcoding, and Illumina sequencing will be used as the sequencing platform. Mycorrhizal fungi will be identified from the SSU sequences using LotuS2. The coordinates of soil sampling points for AMF isolation will be recorded based on a grid system or the geographic characteristics of the Can Gio area. The results will be exported as a raster map illustrating the probability of AMF presence across the study area.