Abstract
AM (Arbuscular mycorrhizal) fungi are important yet unknown components of biodiversity in the agricultural fields in India. To study their diversity and habitat relationships, we characterized and enumerated spores in 55 fields of wheat from 11 agro-climatic regions of India, varying in climatic and edaphic characteristics. The AM fungal spore count, species richness, most frequent species, and intra-radical colonization were studied in various samples drawn from these regions. A total of 165 samples were collected at the time of the wheat harvest. These samples were used as trap cultures and multiplied in a green house for a period of one year, which yielded 34 species scattered over 6 genera. The genera Glomus Tulasne & Tulasne occurred most frequently, constituting 89.1% of the total species. The number of species in a given region ranged from 1?9. Glomus albidum Walker & Rhodes and G. macrocarpum Tulasne & Tulasne were found to be the most commonly occurring species.
Highlights
AM (Arbuscular mycorrhizal) fungi are ubiquitous in soils around the globe and have been associated with improved plant growth for over 100 years
Our study primarily aims at improving the understanding of the broad-scale distribution of AM fungi in different wheat-growing agro-climatic regions of India
Out of 18 states, which are divided into agro-climatic regions (Planning Commission, working group report on agricultural research and education for the formulation of 8th five year plan, government of India 1989), we identified 5 states, which are major wheat- growing zones, and a total of 11 agro-climatic regions were selected
Summary
AM (Arbuscular mycorrhizal) fungi are ubiquitous in soils around the globe and have been associated with improved plant growth for over 100 years. Our study primarily aims at improving the understanding of the broad-scale distribution of AM fungi in different wheat-growing agro-climatic regions of India. Previous studies of studying the distribution and abundance of AM fungi have largely been based on recording AM fungal species at the time of sample collection.
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