Population Dynamics and Characterization of Arbuscular-Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Apple Plantations

摘要

The arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve plant growth, nutrient uptake and defense mechanisms in plants including apple. An investigation was conducted during 2009 - 2010 to estimate population dynamics of AMF in apple orchards at Shimla hills of Himachal Pradesh and to identify these fungal symbionts. AM fungi were invariably found associated with apple plantation in all the locations surveyed and the population of these fungi was observed high in old bearing orchards than that inyoung and uprooted unproductive orchards. Twelve AM fungal species under four genera viz., Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora and Scutellospora were isolated and frequency of occurrence was high in Glomus spp. especially G. fasciculatum, G.mosseae and G. macrocarpum.