Abstract
The study examined the root characteristics, type of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungal associations and their extent of colonization in 13 widely cultivated cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties in southern India. Root and associated soil samples of each cassava variety were collected from Salem and Kolli Hills of the Eastern Ghats in south India. In addition, we also investigated the relationship between the extent of colonization of AM, DSE fungal and AM fungal spore communities and soil characteristics for each cassava variety. Roots of all the cassava varieties were colonized by AM fungi and 12 varieties had co-colonization of DSE fungi. The AM morphology in all the cassava varieties was of an intermediate type with intercellular and intracellular linear hyphae and arbusculate coils. In addition, we found high AM colonization rates (73-89%) but only moderate rates by DSE (22-68%) fungi. We also found 17 AM fungal spore morphotypes and their abundance varied significantly among cassava varieties. In addition, different physicochemical properties of soils may possibly increase AMF diversity, while different varieties of cassava are commonly associated with differing levels of AM and DSE fungi colonization with soil factors potentially influencing the symbiosis.
Highlights
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important stable tuber crops grown widely in tropical and subtropical regions and does not exist in the wild
We primarily focused this study based on four main objectives: (i) to investigate the occurrence and extent of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungal association and AM colonization patterns in different varieties of cassava (ii) to determine the diversity of AM fungi associated with cassava varieties and (iii) to find if root architecture like fine root diameter, root hair number, and root hair length and diameter had any influence on AM and DSE fungal association, and (iv) to assess if any relationship exists between different root architecture, fungal and soil variables
Our study results showed that all the cassava varieties had a strong symbiotic association with both AM and DSE fungi
Summary
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important stable tuber crops grown widely in tropical and subtropical regions and does not exist in the wild. Cassava ranks third among food crops in terms of calories and sixth in terms of annual global production (Burns et al, 2012). About 98 varieties of cassava are cultivated for their tubers that are rich in digestible starch (16-29%) and vitamin C (Rogers and Appan, 1973). Cassava is a rustic crop that grows well in marginally fertile loamy and sandy soils (Straker et al, 2010). In India, cassava is mainly cultivated in the southern peninsular region and has the highest productivity in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala (Sreenivas and Anantharaman, 2005). About 65 - 70% of cassava varieties cultivated in India are edible. Assessing the different types of variations existing among varieties of cassava could be of greater significance
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