Variation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphatase Activity Associated with Sida cardifolia in Karnataka

An investigation was carried out to study the AM fungal association in Sida cardifolia from different parts of Karnataka. AM colonization in the roots, spore load and Phosphatase activity in the root zone soil collected from different parts of Karnataka were determined. AM root colonization was more in the roots of Sida cardifolia collected from Kolar and least in case of root samples collected from Tumkur. Soil collected from Kolar had a highest spore density and least spore density was observed in case of soils collected from Mandya. Alkaline phosphatase activity of the rhizosphere soils collected from Tumkur was more compared to other four locations. Acid phosphatase activity was high in Kolar soils. Phosphatase activity was much related to AM fungal activity. There were 64 isolates comprising 15 species of AM fungi .Important genera of AM fungi are Glomus, Acaulospora and Scutellospora .Genus Glomus was found to be more dominant in all the locations. Acaulospora lacunosa, Glomus melanosporus, Glomus fulvum and Glomus fasciculatum were the dominant species prevalent. AM fungal diversity in the rhizosphere soils of Sida cardifolia was highest in Hassan and least in case of Bangalore.