Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in mangroves of Chorao Island, Goa, India

Abstract

For a desirable understanding of diversity and species composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, in true and associate mangrove plants, 17 true mangrove and their associate species belonging to ten families were assessed from Chorao Island, Goa, India. Maximum AM root colonization was recorded in Thespesia populnea and minimum in Avicennia marina. Rhizosphere soils of Ceriops tagal showed highest and that of Acrostichum aureum showed the least spore density. The results showed that the associate mangrove species were highly mycorrhizal compared to true mangrove plants. Our study recorded greater diversity involving thirty-two AM fungal species belonging to nine genera viz., Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Entrophospora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, Glomus, Rhizophagus, Sclerocystis, and Scutellospora. Acaulospora was the dominant genus and A. dilatata was the dominant AM fungal species. Acaulospora dilatata was the most common AM species in both true and associate mangrove plants, revealing its wider adaptability.