Impact of Some Ecological Factors on the Occurrence and Distribution of Mitosporic Fungi in the Cold Desert of Ladakh (India).

Abstract

Extreme nature of climate and topographical conditions may affect the soil properties, which in turn affect the occurrence and distribution of mycoflora inhabiting cold desert high altitude. In view of this, investigations were carried out to assess the ecological factors regulating the distribution and survival of mitosporic fungi inhabiting the base soil of Moonland (Ladakh), a completely barren, distinctive, splendid, moon-like landscape situated in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir state (India). The soils were nearly neutral to slightly alkaline and with moderate electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity showed a negative effect on the occurrence and distribution of mitosporic fungi as well as on majority of the macronutrients. All the soil samples showed good amount of organic matter and the mitosporic fungi were generally found to be proportional to the soil organic matter, organic carbon and pH. The soil samples also possessed high amounts of phosphorus but low levels of potassium. The micronutrients were present in sufficient amounts in all the investigated soil samples. Physico-chemical soil parameters and majority of the macronutrients played an important role in the occurrence, diversity, distribution, and relative abundance of fungal species in the investigated soil samples.