Identification and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis with Juniperus excelsa

oleh: Mohammad Matinizadeh, Soodabeh Ali Ahmad Korori, Mostafa Khoshnevis, Maryam Teimouri

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran 2005-12-01

Deskripsi

Mycorrhiza is one of the most common symbiosis between vascular plants and microorganisms. Mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in life cycle of plants by increasing their ability to absorb water and nutrients, excreting plant hormones and protecting the host plants against pathogens. The identified mycorrhizal fungi are used to inoculate on poor soils. Eight juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Beib) trees were selected at their natural habitat in Karaj valley of Iran in order to start the investigation. Root and soil were sampled from each tree for two years in two seasons (autumn and spring). After staining roots, the mycorrhizal organs such as hyphae, arbuscles and vesicles were observed. The AM fungi were identified, using Morton and Trappe keys and INVAM site information. Two genus and two species of mycorrhizal fungi were identified, including Glomus sp., Glomus multicaule, Acaulospora sp. and Glomus fasciculatum. The species Glomus multicaule had the greatest abundance in all of the soil samples and in both seasons.