Glomus fasciculatum, a dominant arbuscular mycorrhizal species in the rhizosphere soils of Setaria italica in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana state, India

Abstract

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal association in the rhizosphere soils of Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. from 8 Mandals of Mahabubnagar district, Telangana state, India, were studied. A significant number of AM fungi were identified in the present study, i.e., 53. Among the 53 AM fungi, Glomus was represented by 23 species, Acaulospora with 11, Sclerocystis with 6, Scutellospora with 5, Gigaspora with 4, and Funneliformis with 2, Ambispora and Archaeospora with 1 species. Glomus fasciculatum was the dominant species among the Glomus genera isolated from the rhizosphere soil samples of 34 villages in Mahabub Nagar district of Telangana State. The AM fungi spore density ranged from 74 to 270 per 100 gm soil (average 145), while the root colonization ranged from 50.67% to 93.33% (average 75.71%). This study provides valuable information on AM fungal association in Setaria italica.