Arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity of tree - legumes in the soils of Sirumalai Hills.

摘要

An attempt was made to survey the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi association with tree-legumes of Sirumalai Hills, a part of Western Ghats in Dindugul District of Tamil Nadu, India. Root samples (1-2 mm thickness) and rhizosphere soil (black loam and red loam) samples from 20 tree-legumes were collected. The percent infection was measured and the spores/sporocarps of AM from rhizosphere soils were isolated. The AM infection ranged from 11 to 100%. While the percent infection was maximum (100) in Albizia lebbeck, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala, it was minimum (11 to 13) in Sesbania grandiflora and Tamarindus indica. A total of 23 AM fungal species were recorded in the rhizosphere soils of tree-legumes. Among them 11 belong to Glomus, 9 to Gigaspora, 5 to Acaulospora, 3 to Scutellospora and 1 to Entrophospora. Tabulated data showing AM infection in the roots of tree legumes and AM fungal spores in their rhizosphere soils, and rhizosphere soil characteristics of tree legumes of Sirumalai hills, are provided. The results demonstrate the richness of AM fungi in soil with low N content. The degree of diversity of AM fungi and their host preference, if not specific can be used for selective exploitation of tree legumes in forest conservation programmes..