Abstract
Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (AM) is a symbiotic association between fungi and roots of higher plants, which enhances plant growth and production. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L: Family Piperaceae), the second most valuable spice crop in Sri Lanka, is also identified as a host crop of mycorrhizae. However, existing indigenous AM species, their spore abundance and root colonization is not yet well studied or documented. Therefore, the present study was conducted to collect data on AM spore density and morphological features of modified roots due to infection of existing AM species in black pepper fields. Rhizosphere soils of randomly selected, 20 well-grown black pepper plants in RBL soils of Matale in Sri Lanka were evaluated for pH, moisture and major nutrients while AM spore abundance and AM colonization in stained roots were examined microscopically. The soil pH (4.7-5.9), total N (0.18-0.23 %), and organic C (1.57-1.75%) levels in study sites were preferable for biological activities while variability was observed in available P (4.4-29 ppm), exchangeable K (188-788 ppm) and volumetric moisture (9.8-24%). The AM spore (size >50 μm) density in examined soils were high and ranged from 1600-9000 spores kg-1 soil. Both live (slight yellowish to dark brown in colour) and dead (black) spores were present and globular or spherical in shape without any special hyphal attachments. About 95% of examined roots were infected with AM with modifications such as arbuscules or vesicles or both. Networks of non-septate, extra-radical hyphae and branched intra-radical hyphae could be seen. Arbuscules observed were in different maturity and highly branched. Both inter or intracellular vesicles found were oval or ellipsoid in shape. Thus, most of the mature black pepper plants in RBL soils of Matale were found infected with indigenous vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) and morphological features of their spores, hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles were similar to fungi of order Glomerales, which consisted with Glomus spp.
Highlights
Mycorrhizae or fungi-root is a mutually beneficial symbiotic association between fungi in the Phylum Glomerromycota and roots of higher plants
This study was carried out to identify existing arbusular mycorrhizae (AM) species and morphological modifications of colonized AM in black pepper roots in order to verify their involvement for a sustainable black pepper production on reddish brown latosolic soils in Matale in Sri Lanka
The black pepper roots collected from selected plants were examined for mycorrhizal infection via trypan blue staining after clearing and acidification of roots (Brundrett et al, 1996)
Summary
Mycorrhizae or fungi-root is a mutually beneficial symbiotic association between fungi in the Phylum Glomerromycota and roots of higher plants. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L: Family Piperaceae), the second most valuable spice crop in Sri Lanka, is a perennial vine and grows well on reddish brown latosolic soils. Mycorrhizal activity in fields with mature black pepper plants of Sri Lanka is not properly explored and documented up to date. Minimum anthropogenic disturbances in black pepper cultivations under Sri Lankan conditions and the low phosphate availability due to high phosphate immobilization may lead to higher indigenous mycorrhizal populations and diverse activities with a high species diversity.
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