STUDIES ON ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI FROM SOIL OF SITAKHANDI FOREST OF MAHARASHTRA

Forest ecosystems are the regions where there is least human interference and therefore we see luxury of plant growth. Sithkhandi forest is one of the least human interfered forests present near Bhokar region of Nanded district in Maharashtra. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) develops symbiotic relation with most of the land plants. This association is very common in the terrestrial ecosystem throughout the world. The objective of the current study is to identify and determine frequency of various AM fungal species. Five GPS marked sampling sites were selected for isolation of mycorrhizal spores. A total 34 species belonging to genera Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, Gigaspora, Diversispora, Enterophora and Pascispora were reported. Little variation is seen in their frequency. In this study, more species diversity among Glomus followed by Acaulospora were found. High frequency percentage of Glomus mosseae has been reported at all study sites.