ASSOCIATION OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGAL SPECIES IN THE PLANT SPECIES OF BARGUR HILLS, ERODE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

The present study was carried out the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization and spore population diversity some medicinal plants species at Bargur hills Western Ghats of (Anthyur taluk), Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. Root and rhizosphere soil samples were collected during the month of August,2017-March, 2018 from the surface to 20 cm depth as well as pH were also measured. Totally 25 plant species belonging to 19 families recovered Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spore and root colonization. The results of the present study arbuscular mycorrhizal spore population in the rhizosphere soil and rootcolonization of all the plant species. A total of 22 AM fungal species belonging to 7 genera and 2 different orders were recorded from the rhizosphere soil samples of this study region. The Glomus was dominant had seen in rhizosphere soil samples in all the medicinal plant species. The maximum spore population was found in the rhizosphere soil samples of Leucas aspera (470 /100 g soil) which belongs to the family Lamiaceae and lowest spore population was observed in the Tephorosia purpurea (123 /100g soil) belongs to Fabaceae. The highest 83 % AM fungal infection was found in roots of Achyranthus aspera belongs to the family Amaranthaceae, while the lowest 23 % AM fungal association was found in the root of Mimosa pudica belongs to the family Mimosaceae.