Diversity studies on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in vegetable crop plants of Goa, India

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity associated with different vegetable crop plants cultivated in Goa. Fifty one AM fungal species were recovered from rhizosphere soil samples of 27 vegetable crop plants belonging to 10 families from 10 different agricultural sites of Goa during 2008-2009. Glomus (26) was the dominant genus followed by Acaulospora (16), Gigaspora (4) and Scutellospora (5) with species number given in parentheses. The maximum spore density was recorded in Cansaulim (1015.01 spores 100g sup(-1) soil) and minimum was reported in Pernem (394.01 spores 100g sup(-1) soil). The highest number of arbuscular mycorrhizal spores was found in Zea mays (95.33 spores 100g sup(-1) soil) in Taleigao and least was recovered in A. virdis (12.33 spores 100g sup(-1) soil) in Taleigao. Acaulospora scrobiculata was recorded in all ten sites in 24 vegetables and was the dominant species in six sites. Species richness was maximum in Netravali (28species sup(-site)). Simpsons and Shanon-Wiener Diversity Indices of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were highest in Netravali respectively.