Abstract
The incidence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization and rhizospheric spore prevalence of ten crops was studied in relation to their foliar concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the Calabar area of the Cross River Basin of Nigeria in order to determine their mycorrhizal status. All crops studied had an incidence of mycorrhizal colonization including Talinum triangulare a member of Portulacaceae family. The highest percentage AMF colonization of 97.60% and rhizospheric spore density of 112 spores/5g soil were found in Arachis hypogea while Talinum triangulare and Telfairia occidentalis had the lowest percentage AMF colonization of 30.90% and rhizospheric spore density of 10 spores/5g soil respectively. There was no correlation between the percentage AMF colonization and the rhizospheric spore density of the crops sampled. Foliar phosphorus concentration was highest in A. hypogea , (1.20%), for potassium it was in Colocasia esculenta (9.3%) while T. occidentalis had the highest foliar nitrogen concentration (4.9%). There was no significant relationship between foliar nutrient concentration and AM fungi colonization or rhizospheric spore density. Keywords: AMF, Colonization, Spore density, Foliar nutrients, Cross River Basin of Nigeria.
Highlights
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are found in most agricultural soils (Ryan and Angus, 2003)
There was no significant difference between the percentage arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of roots in C. annum and T. occidentalis or among V. unguiculata, I. batatas, M. esculenta and Z. mays respectively (Table 1)
We have established that Arachis hypogea, Vigna unguiculata, Abelmoschus esculentus, Capsicum annum, Ipomea batatas, Manihot esculenta, Talinum triangulare, Telfairia occidentalis, Colocasia esculenta and Zea mays are all associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization (Table 1)
Summary
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are found in most agricultural soils (Ryan and Angus, 2003). They are broad-host ranged and colonize the roots of most crops and weeds. Arbuscular mycorrhizae have been implicated with the production of acid and alkaline phosphatase for hydrolysis of organic phosphates thereby making them available to the plant roots (Tarafdar and Marschner, 1994). This enhanced nutrient and water uptake results in improved nutrition, increased plant growth and crop yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi association with crops is considered to be of great significance in sustainable agriculture (Gianinazzi and Scheuepp, 1994; Sunilkumar et al, 2012)
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