Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in Oryza sativa(rice) varieties cultivated in Khazan lands in Goa

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity associated with rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated in the Khazan lands in Goa.AM fungi (Glomeromycota) are vital components of almost all terrestrial ecosystems, forming a mutualistic symbiosis with roots of more than 80 percent of vascular plants including agronomically important species. Roots of rice varieties from six different agricultural sites were found to be colonized, with AM fungi ranging from 18.0 percent to 98.0 percent. Variety Korgut showed the least mycorrhizal colonization while maximum colonization was recorded in variety Jyoti. AM fungal species belonging to four genera viz., Acaulospora, Glomus, Funneliformis and Entrophospora were recorded from the rhizosphere soils and Acaulospora being the dominant genus.