1Laboratory of Biological and Agronomic Sciences, Amar Telidji University of Laghouat, Algeria
2Mechanics LaboratoryEnvironment and Natural Resources Team-Amar Telidji University of Laghouat, Algeria
*Corresponding Author: Tifoura Amina, Laboratory of Biological and Agronomic Sciences, Amar Telidji University of Laghouat, Algeria, Email: a.tifoura@lagh-univ.dz
Online published on 04 December, 2025.
The soils of arid regions, especially steppe areas, are generally poor. Despite these challenging conditions, steppe plants manage to establish and adapt. The mycorrhizal symbiotic association has a crucial role in the nutrition and stress resistance of these plants. The present research aims to identify mycorrhizal fungi in three perennial plants native to the Algerian steppe: Aristida pungens, Retama raetam and Astragalus armatus.
We took soil samples under and outside vegetation, along with corresponding roots for each plant tested and covering an air of 206 km.
The results varied among the three species: the rhizospheric soil under A. Pungenshad a moisture content of 5.28%, an organic matter content of 1.38%, a glomalin level of 2.83 mg/g of soil and the number of spores of 461.66 spores per 100 g of soil. In addition, soil under R. raetam gave more information on pH (8.13) and an EC of 0.12 ms/cm and for A. armatus, its abundance was linked to a CaCO3 level of 9.79%. We recorded a positive correlation of glomalin with spore count and soil moisture. All three plants studied exhibited a high rate of mycorrhization exceeding 70%, with A. Armatushaving the highest averages.
Desertification, Fabacae, Mycorrhizae, Poacea, Soil, Steppe
