Diversity of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, prevalent in rhizosphere of different crops grown in the university farm

Abstract

Thirty-four (34) roots and rhizospheric soil samples of seven kharif and eight rabi season crops were collected from different areas of the university farm. The percent Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal infection in different crops ranged from 0 to 100%. Maximum AM fungal colonization (100%) was found in cowpea, chickpea and pea and minimum in urdbean, soybean, barley and even in chickpea (20 to 30%). Barley, tomato and few samples of mustard and wheat also did not show any AM fungal infection. The number of spores per 50 g of soil ranged from 0 to 925 in kharif season crops and 25 to 1150 in rabiseason crops. Maximum number of AM fungi spores was found in the rhizospheric soil of sorghum with 925 spores 50 gm-1 of soil and minimum in case of cotton with 25 spores 50 gm-1 of soil, while no spores were found in case of pigeonpea and urdbean field soils. In case of rabi crops maximum numbers of AM fungal spores were found in the rhizospheric soil of mustard and wheat with 1150 spores 50 gm-1 of soil. On the basis of pattern of infection and spore morphology the AM genera identified was Glomus in kharif season crops and Glomus, Scutellospora, Acaulospora in rabi season crops. In few samples the external hyphae and clusters were identified as Glomus versiforme. The predominant genus identified was Glomus in university farm soils. Key words: Diversity, AM fungi, Glomus, Scutellospora, Acaulospora, Kharif crops, Rabicrops.