Abstract

Data generated from next generation sequencing (NGS) will soon comprise the majority of information about arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities. Although these approaches give deeper insight, analysing NGS data involves decisions that can significantly affect results and conclusions. This is particularly true for AMF community studies, because much remains to be known about their basic biology and genetics. During a workshop in 2013, representatives from seven research groups using NGS for AMF community ecology gathered to discuss common challenges and directions for future research. Our goal was to improve the quality and accessibility of NGS data for the AMF research community. Discussions spanned sampling design, sample preservation, sequencing, bioinformatics and data archiving. With concrete examples we demonstrated how different approaches can significantly alter analysis outcomes. Failure to consider the consequences of these decisions may compound bias introduced at each step along the workflow. The products of these discussions have been summarized in this paper in order to serve as a guide for any researcher undertaking NGS sequencing of AMF communities.

Keywords

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); bioinformatics; environmental sequencing; next generation sequencing (NGS); PCR

Published in

New Phytologist
2015, Volume: 207, number: 1, pages: 235-247
Publisher: WILEY

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13340

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/109137