Background and Aims The long-term conservation of seeds of plant genetic resources is of key importance for food security and preservation of agrobiodiversity. Nevertheless, there is scarce information available about seed longevity of many crops under germplasm bank conditions. Methods Through germination experiments as well as the analysis of historical monitoring data, we studied the decline in viability manifested by 1000 maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) seed accessions conserved for an average of 48 years at the CIMMYT germplasm bank, the largest maize seedbank in the world, under two cold storage conditions: an active (–3 °C; intended for seed distribution) and a base conservation chamber (–15 °C; for long-term conservation). Key Results Seed lots stored in the active chamber had a significantly lower and more variable seed germination, averaging 81.4 %, as compared with the seed lots conserved in the base chamber, averaging 92.1 %. The average seed viability detected in this study was higher in comparison with that found in other seed longevity studies on maize conserved under similar conditions. A significant difference was detected in seed germination and longevity estimates (e.g. p85 and p50) among accessions. Correlating seed longevity with seed traits and passport data, grain type showed the strongest correlation, with flint varieties being longer lived than floury and dent types. Conclusions The more rapid loss of seed viability detected in the active chamber suggests that the seed conservation approach, based on the storage of the same seed accessions in two chambers with different temperatures, might be counterproductive for overall long-term conservation and that base conditions should be applied in both. The significant differences detected in seed longevity among accessions underscores that different viability monitoring and regeneration intervals should be applied to groups of accessions showing different longevity profiles.

RESUMENSe identificaron morfológicamente hongos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares nativos asociados a coberturas de gramíneas y leguminosas, establecidas en suelos Oxisoles del piedemonte llanero (Meta, Colombia) y se evaluó su capacidad de colonización. El área experimental se estableció en las calles de un cultivo de naranja Valencia donde se sembraron especies de Arachis pintoi (CIAT 18744), Brachiaria brizantha cv. Toledo, B. dictyoneura cv. Llanero, Desmodium ovalifolium cv. Maquenque, Panicum maximum (CIAT 36000), Paspalum notatum, un testigo químico (glifosato) y un testigo mecánico con guadaña. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con ocho tratamientos y tres repeticiones, que se evaluaron en la época húmeda y en la seca. Se tomaron muestras de suelo rizosférico y raíces de las gramíneas y leguminosas para identificar morfológicamente hongos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares y cuantificar el número de esporas y el porcentaje de colonización. Se identificaron 26 morfotipos de dichos hongos, incluyendo Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora scrobiculata y A. morrowiae que representaron 65% de la población presente en las dos épocas. La colonización radical osciló entre 47% y 94% con un contenido de esporas entre 63 y 300/100 g de suelo seco. Las coberturas con mayor porcentaje de colonización y diversidad de hongos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares fueron B. brizantha, B. dictyoneura y P. notatum; el control mecánico y los tratamientos con glifosato presentaron una influencia negativa sobre el contenido de esporas y colonización radical de dichos hongos.Palabras claves: biodiversidad, cítricos, morfotipos, suelo ácido, trópico bajo. ABSTRACTNative arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with grass and legume cover crops established on Oxisol soils in the Colombian piedmont (Meta) were identified morphologically and the ability to colonize was evaluated. The experimental area consisted of cover crops Arachis pintoi (CIAT 18744), Brachiaria brizantha cv. Toledo, B. dictyoneura cv. Llanero, Desmodium ovalifolium cv. Maquenque, Panicum maximum (CIAT 36000), Paspalum notatum, and a chemical control (Glyphosate and mechanical control) established in the rows in a Valencia orange grove. The experiment followed a complete randomized block design (8 cover crops) and three replications, evaluated during the wet and dry seasons. Rhizosphere soil and grass and legumes roots were sampled in order to identified AMF and quantify the number of spores and the percentage of colonization. A total of 26 species were identified, including Acaulospora scrobiculata, A. morrowiae and, Scutellospora heterogama, which accounted for over 65% of the population. The percentage of root colonization ranged between 47% and 94% with spore counts between 63 and 300/100 g of dry soil. Cover crops with the highest colonization percentage and AMF diversity were B. brizantha, B. dictyoneura and P. notatum in their respective order. Glyphosate and mechanical control had a negative influence on the sporulation and coloniz...