Morpho-diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonized the rhizospheric soils of two endemic plants localized in sud of Morocco

Abstract

Exploring the zone of plant-soil interaction represents a crucial way to exploit their plant growth-promoting abilities. The present study endeavors to comprehensively characterize the mycorrhizal populations associated with two plant species Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana and Euphorbia officinarum subsp inhabiting the arid regions of the Guelmim OuedNoune area. Our approach involves assessing the mycorrhization intensity in symbiosis with these host plants belonging to the Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae families. While, based on the trapping method by using maize (Zea mays) as a trap plant, alongside the isolation and morphological identification of spore entities within the rhizospheric soils of both aforementioned plant species. Microscopic examinations have revealed that all maize roots within the various samples of rhizospheric soils examined exhibit mycorrhizal associations, demonstrating the presence of diverse endomycorrhizal structures, including hyphae and vesicles, with a remarkable maximum mycorrhization frequency of 100 %. Furthermore, an array of fungal spores has been observed in the soils of both plant species under scrutiny. In total, five distinct fungal species have been successfully isolated and identified in the rhizospheric soil of Vachellia tortilis subsp. raddiana, while three species have been documented in the rhizospheric soil of Euphorbia officinarum subsp. echinus. These fungal entities primarily belong to the Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae families, with the genus Glomus emerging as the most prevalent. This research highlights the critical role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in facilitating plant adaptation to arid environments. Understanding the diversity and abundance of AMF in these ecosystems can inform conservation and re-vegetation strategies in arid regions, promoting the resilience of endemic plant species.