Abstract
The microbial communities associated with desert soils are poorly studied. Molecular techniques have revealed that these communities are more diverse than previously thought. In this review, we have assembled and synthesized available literature on microbiological research directed towards Arabian Desert soils, with primary emphasis on fungi. Recent molecular techniques have generated metagenomics data indicating a relatively high diversity of fungi in deserts, including the Arabian Desert. However, most publications dealing with Arabian Desert soils have reported only fungi that can be cultured, identified either molecularly or morphologically. As such, the fungal communities and their diversity are still largely unknown. Most functional studies in the Arabian Desert deal with the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving plants' survival in the harsh conditions of desert. In addition, desert fungi might be utilized in developing sustainable agriculture and biomedical applications. Because of future challenges related to desertification and climate change, there is a need for additional studies on heat and drought resistant fungi and the functions of these organisms in deserts.