Seasonal variations in diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mangrove species of Indian East and the West coast

Abstract

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the diversity and successional pattern of the plant population have stimulated the necessity to identify the factors maintaining their diversity and abundance. The present study investigated AM fungal communities colonizing the roots of three plant species, Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) Blume and Excoecaria agallocha L. in two different Indian coasts, Chorao Island, Goa, and Pichavaram Forest, Tamil Nadu, to varying seasons. The results of the present study revealed that root colonization, spore density, and relative abundance varied among the three plant species in all seasons. The highest root colonization and spore density were detected in pre-monsoon and monsoon, respectively. The two coastal habitats hosted different AM fungal communities. Chorao Island presented the dominance of AM fungal species belonging to the family Acaulosporaceae, while there was the dominance of Glomeraceae at Pichavaram Forest. The study revealed that the season, host plant, and soil properties influence AM fungal symbiosis. The CCA indicated that the soil attributes such as OC, N, Mn, Zn, and Fe significantly influenced the abundance of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, and Sclerocystis. In contrast, EC affected the Rhizophagus, Glomus, and Entrophospora species.