Occurrence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae with Amaranthaceae in soils of the Indian semi-arid region

摘要

Some members of the family Amaranthaceae, which has mostly been reported as non-mycorrhizal, were examined for a symbiotic association with mycorrhizae in the semiarid and arid zones. Ten species belonging to five genera,Achyranthes, Aerva, Alternanthera, Amaranthus, andCelosiawere examined, using 1.0-cm long root standards. Intercellular hyphae, vesicles and arbuscules were observed in the root cortex. The number of different types of spores in the rhizosphere soil of different plants ranged from one to three. The spores isolated represented nine species belonging to four genera,Glomus, Gigaspora, Sclerocystis, andScutellospora. No correlation could be established between spore counts and either soil pH or soil moisture.