Periodic changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheric soil of fruit plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are ubiquitous soil microbes and play a very important role in terrestrial ecosystems. The present study involved analyzing seasonal variation of root colonization and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the rhizosphere soil of seven different fruit plants of north-western India. The AM fungal colonization fluctuated seasonally in the rhizosphere of these fruit plants. The total AM fungal colonization (35.0), spore population (31.7) and number of AMF species (5.0) associated was highest in amla (Emblica officinalis) plants in monsoon and post monsoon season. There was significant difference of the colonization by arbuscules and vesicles between the three seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon). Glomus was found to be the dominant genus in all the plants. Other AMF species of genera Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Sclerocystis and Scutellospora were also present. Different AM colonization structures like mycelium, arbuscules and vesicles were also observed. Wide variations were observed in root colonization, spore number and AM fungal diversity among different plants and seasons.