Effect of soil-pollution on symbiotic colonization and spore population dynamics of endo-mycorrhiza

Abstract

Root colonization by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and its spore population dynamics in pollution-free and polluted soil was studied. AM fungal colonization, formation of arbuscules and vesicles and respective spore counts were comparatively lower in polluted soil. Maximum colonisation in polluted area near thermal power plant was up to 35-60% and highest spore count was up to 75-95 spores per 100 gm air-dried soil which were 50-80% and 121-168 spores/ 100 gm soil in pollution-free sites. Polluted areas near paper mill or sugar mill had VAM colonization up to 20-25% only and spore count was 52-60 spores/ 100 g soil where as in non-polluted sites these were 58-71 % and 120-145 spores/lOO gm soil. AM spore counts were comparatively higher in soil samples collected in October and February months as compared to those found in summer and rainy seasons. Species of Acaulospora and Glomus were dominating the AM fungal spore populations where as Entrophospora sp. and Scutellospora sp. spore population were the lowest.