Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN THREE AGRO-EDAPHIC ECOSYSTEMS OF WARANGAL, INDIA

M. Ramesh and S. Ram Reddy

Abstract

Distribution and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was investigated in three types of agroedaphic ecosystems viz., a cultivated field, non-cultivated field and amended field which are located adjacently in Warangal district, the semi arid north Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Fifty two rhizosphere soil samples from three fields were collected and AM fungal spores were extracted and identified. A total of 47 AM fungal taxa belonging to five genera were identified based on spore morphology. Species-wise, 27 species belonged to genus Glomus, 11 to Acaulospora, 6 to Scutellospora, 2 to Gigaspora and one to Entrophospora. Highest spore density was recorded in non cultivated field (NCF), slightly lower in amended field (AF) (cultivated but amended with agrochemicals or organic manures) and lowest in cultivated field (CF). The dominant species of AMF were different in the three habitats. Spore density, species richness and community composition of AF resembled NCF than CF. Cluster analysis further revealed that AMF diversity was significantly affected by the host community and land use practices.