DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL FUNGI ISOLATED FROM THE CABBAGE (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. CAPITATA) RHIZOSPHERE

Abstract

We have been working on the traditional way to discourse microscopic fungal population present in the rhizospheric soil of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). These fungi are crucial for the decomposition of organic carbon, cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus, and belowground carbon sequestration. Their role as parasite, saprophyte, mutualism and commensalism is also well established. The objective of this study was to analyze soil and determine the fungus genera from the rhizospheric soil of Cabbage from the area of Armpora, Binner, Chakloo, Janbazpora, Ladoora, Muslimabad, Nadihal and Punchatra villages which come under, Dist. Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabbage plant rhizospheric soil was obtained from various research locations marked from the said villages. Research method applied was a survey with the intent of soil sampling. The soil samples were taken from 1-10 cm deep soil for sampling purpose. The result recorded from soil samples were then analyzed descriptively and described based on their macro and micro morphology. Then, the collected fungus was identified by using identification manual for fungus. Fungi such as Aspergillus, Alternaria, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Mortirella, Mucor, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Rhizoctonia, Phoma, Trichoderma, Verticillium and Sterilia mycelia were most frequently recorded.