Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi spores diversity and AMF infection in some medicinal plants of District Charsadda KPK

An investigation has been made about the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) spore population and root colonization in 20 medicinal plants selected and collected from district Charsadda at early winter and summer seasons during session 2014-2015.The spore density of AMF ranged from 80 spores per 100gm -1 , and root colonization from 20-80%.The lowest spore density was recorded in Cestrum nocturnum, Ficus carica, Aquilaria agallocha and the highest spore density was recorded in Sedum dendroideum, Cannabis sativa, Triticum aestivum, and Mentha longifolia, Withania somnifera while absent in Brassica campestris, Amaranthus viridis.The spore density of AMF and root colonization by these fungi varied from species to species, season to season, and also affected by host plant growth stages (vegetative-fruiting).AM fungi association was more observed at fruiting stage and low at vegetative and flowering phases of host.The most dominant species of AMF were Glomus followed by Sclerocystis and Acaulospora species.