SEASONAL DIVERSITY OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THE RHIZOSPHERE OF PerseabombycinaK., IN SIVSAGAR DISTRICT OF ASSAM (India)

D. K.Hatibaruah; D. Konwar

Volume : V, Issue : VII, July - 2015

SEASONAL DIVERSITY OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THE RHIZOSPHERE OF PerseabombycinaK., IN SIVSAGAR DISTRICT OF ASSAM (India)

D. K. Hatibaruah, D. Konwar

Abstract :

 Assam has a unique position in the sericulture map of the world as all the four commercial types of natural silk (viz. Eri, Muga, Mulberry and Tasar) producing insects and their host plants are found here. ‘Som’ (PerseabombycinaKost, Family Lauraceae) is the primary food plant of Muga Silkworm (AntheraeaassamensisHelfer) that produces the golden yellow ‘Muga’ silk. The present investigation was carried out to study the prevalence of AM fungi in som plants growing in Sivsagar district of Assam by determining the extent of root colonization, spore density in the rhizospheric soil and the actual species composition associated with the host. Seasonal dynamics of arbuscularmycorrhizal (AM) fungal community composition in this particular plant species,from five different sites in Sivsagar district of Assam,India were investigated. In allthe sites species variation in AM fungal spore density was observed. Maximum spore density and AM species richness were recordedin the spring season, while minimum spore density and richness were observed during summer season in all the study sites. Atotal of 14arbuscularmycorrhizalfungal species representing four genera were recorded.Glomuscaledonium and Acaulosporalaeviswas recorded in all seasons.It has been revealed that the occurrence and distribution of VA–mycorrhizal fungi are largely governed by various physicchemical properties of the soil as well as by the rhizospheric effect of the host plant.