Morphological and Structural Diversities of Indigenous Mycorrhiza Communities Associated to Castor Bean from Adamawa Cameroon

Abstract

This study describes the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that enter into association with castor bean growth wild in Subsaharan Africa. Three sites of castor bean stands were selected in each of the three Subdivisions (Ngaoundere I, Ngaoundere II and Nyambaka) of the Vina Division in Adamawa Cameroon. Soil samples and roots were taken from each castor bean rhizosphere. All samples from one site were mixed into a composite sample. Leek was used as trap plant. Mycorrhizal parameters, spores density and specific richness were determined following to the standard methods. After spore extraction, species identification was obtained through the informations provided by the International Vesicular Mycorrhizal fungi collection. Results indicate that Cameroonian castor bean accession was found to be symbiotic with AMF under Sudano-Guinean climate of Adamawa Cameroon. The morphological and structural characterization enabled the description of six AMF species, belonging to three genera: Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus sp1, Glomus sp2, Scutellospora calospora, Scutellospora purpurasens, Entrophospora infrequens. These findings open opportunities for domestication and application of AMF for a sustainable castor bean productivity.