Isolation and characterisation of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi spores from selected plant roots and their rhizosphere soil environment

Abstract

Aims: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or previously known as the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi, is a type of endomycorrhiza that closely associates with most species of plants. Meanwhile, they significantly improve the nutrients uptake in exchange of photosynthates and decrease the stress caused by both biotic and abiotic factors through symbiosis relationship. However, the understanding of indigenous AM fungi species present in its host plants are comparatively inadequate, hence this research study concentrated on indigenous AM fungi population in some selected plants that contribute to agricultural sector in Malaysia and phytochemical properties of soil that affect the colonization rate of AM fungi. Methodology and results: Bamboo, banana, coconut, sugarcane, papaya, lemongrass, pandan and tapioca plant were selected in this study. The soil and plant roots were sampled and the fungi spores were extracted by applying Wet sieves and decantation techniques then further purified by sucrose density centrifugation. Genera Glomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Acaulospora and Dentiscutata were isolated and Glomus was determined as the dominant genera followed by Acaulospora in these selected plants. Soil pH were found to be significantly affecting the AM fungi population and the root colonization percentage of AM fungi in the plants analysed. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: From this study, tapioca recorded the highest percentage of AM fungi root colonization rate with 20.00% in root while banana recorded the lowest rate of 3.33% only. Based on this study, tapioca is recommended for the propagation of AM fungi for biofertilizer usage in agricultural sector in future.

Evaluation of the Mycorrhizal Potential of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Rhizosphere Soils in the Figuig Oasis (Southeastern Morocco)

“…A significantly positive correlation was found between the colonization frequency and spore density in the soil samples and the pH in our study sites, which ranged from 7.4 to 8.1. Toh et al (2018) [ 49 ] found that the soil pH in the rhizosphere had significant effects in terms of the number of spores present in the soil and the rate of root colonization by AMF. Our results are in accordance with these findings.…”