Occurrence and distribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in agricultural fields of Mysore

Occurrence and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the agricultural fields in and around Mysore district was studied. Almost all the sampling sites belong to semi-arid region. Most of the crops growing in this region were sampled. AMF percent colonization and spore density and species richness was assessed. Soil samples exhibit varied physico-chemical parameters which correlates with AMF percent colonization and spore count. Four AMF genera namely Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora and Scutellospora were identified by spore morphological characteristics. A total of about 45 AMF morphotypes were observed. Among 45 species 6 species were could not able to identify. Genus Glomus was found to be very dominant by exhibiting 19 species followed by Acaulospora of about 10 species. Spore count and species richness was found higher in host plants like maize and sorghum. Higher percent colonization, spore density and species richness were found in samples like YLDR, KRN and HNSR which were collected from irrigated agricultural fields.