Effect of indigenous mycorrhizal colonization on phosphorus‐acquisition efficiency in soybean and sunflower

Despite a general consent about the beneficial contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on natural ecosystems, there is an intense debate about their role in agricultural systems. In this work, soybean (Glycine max L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) field plots with different P availabilities were sampled across the Pampean Region of Argentina (> 150 samples from Mollisols) to characterize the relationship between available soil P and indigenous mycorrhizal colonization. A subsequent pot experiment with soybean and sunflower was carried out to evaluate the effect of P supply (0, 12, and 52 mg P kg^–1) and AMF inoculation on AMF colonization and crop responsiveness to P in a Mollisol. Both crops showed high AMF colonization in the field (average: 55% for soybean and 44% for sunflower). While mycorrhizal colonization in soybean was significantly and negatively related to available soil P, no such trends were apparent in sunflower. Also, total biomass was 3.5 and 2.0 times higher in mycorrhizal than in nonmycorrhizal pot‐grown soybean under low‐ and medium‐P conditions, respectively. Sunflower, on the other hand, did not benefit from AMF symbiosis under medium and high P supply. While mycorrhization stimulated P‐uptake efficiency in soybean, the generally high P efficiency in sunflower was not associated with AMF symbiosis.     

Effect of agricultural management practices on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance in low-input cropping systems of southern Africa: a case study from Zimbabwe

Previous research, mostly in temperate agricultural systems, has shown that management practices such as fallow period, tillage, crop rotation, and phosphorus (P) fertilizer applications can influence the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but relatively little is known about their effect in smallholder farmers’ fields in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we evaluated the effect of four subsistence crops that form associations with AMF, moderate P fertilization, tillage, and fallow period on the subsequent AMF abundance on three contrasting low fertility soils in south-western Zimbabwe. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal abundance was estimated based on early mycorrhizal colonization of maize (Zea mays L.) or lablab (Lablab purpureus L.) following the various treatments. The previously grown crop significantly affected AMF abundance (p < 0.001). It was highest after lablab followed by pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.), maize, and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and there were significant positive correlations between AMF abundance and aboveground biomass of pigeonpea, lablab, and maize. Contrary to much previous research, P fertilization, fallowing, and tillage did not significantly decrease AMF abundance. In smallholder farmers’ fields in the semi-arid tropics of sub-Saharan Africa, therefore, growing vigorous mycorrhizal plants prior to the dry season could be more important than minimizing P fertilizer applications, fallow periods, and tillage to maintain or increase AMF abundance.     

MYCORRHIZAL INFLUENCE ON FRUIT YIELD AND MINERAL CONTENT OF TOMATO GROWN UNDER SALT STRESS

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) yields are known to decrease for plants grown in saline soils. This study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on fruit yield and mineral content of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive tomato cultivars grown with varied levels of salt. NaCl and CaCl₂were added to soil in the irrigation water in equal molar ratios to give EC_e values of 1.4 (nonstressed) and 4.9 dS m^?1 (salt stressed). Plants were grown in a greenhouse using unsterilized, low phosphorus (P) (silty clay) soil-sand mix. Mycorrhizal root colonization occurred whether cultivars were salt stressed or nonstressed, but the extent of AMF root colonization was higher in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants. The salt tolerant cultivar ‘Pello’ generally had higher AMF root colonization than the salt sensitive cultivar ‘Marriha’. Shoot dry matter (DM) yield, fruit fresh yield, and AMF colonization were higher for plants grown under nonstressed than for plants grown under salt stressed conditions. Shoot DM and fruit fresh yields were higher in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants grown with or without salt stress. Pello generally had higher fruit fresh yield per plant and fruit weight than Marriha, but these differences were only significant for fruit weight in unioculated plants grown under salt stressed conditions. The enhancement in fruit fresh yield due to AMF inoculation was 26 and 23% under nonstressed and 28 and 46% under salt stressed treatments for Pello and Marriha, respectively. For both cultivars, fruit contents of P, potassium (K), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were higher in AMF inoculated compared with uninoculated plants grown under nonstressed and salt stressed conditions. Fruit Na concentrations were lower in AMF inoculated than uninoculated plants grown under salt stressed conditions. The enhancement in P, K, Zn, Cu, and Fe acquisition due to AMF inoculation was more pronounced in Marriha than in Pello cultivar under salt stressed conditions. The results of this study indicated that AMF inoculated plants had greater tolerance to salt stress than unioculated plants.     

Responses of directly seeded wetland rice to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation

The mycorrhizal enhancement of plant growth is generally attributed to increased nutrients uptake. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the growth and nutrient uptake of directly seeded wetland rice. Seeds were germinated and inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi or left uninoculated. The plants were grown at 60% of ‐0.03 MPa to establish the mycorrhizas. After 5 weeks, half of the pots were harvested and the rest were flooded with deionized water to maintain 3–5 cm of standing water until harvesting (122 days after sowing). Mycorrhizal fungal colonization of rice roots was 36.2% at harvest. Mycorrhizal fungi inoculated rice seedlings grew better compared to uninoculated seedlings and had increased grain yield (10%) at the harvesting stage. Shoot and root growth were effectively increased by AMF inoculation at the harvesting stage. The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition of direct seeding wetland rice were significantly increased by AMF inoculation. The AMF enhanced N and P translocation through the hyphae from soils to roots/shoots to grains effectively.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus intraradices on active and passive pools of carbon in long-term soil fertility gradients of maize based cropping system

A potculture study was conducted in soils collected from long-term fertilizer experiment (LTFE) being kept up as far the past 40 years to determine whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizoglomus intraradices colonization changes the active and passive pools of carbon in a maize (Zea mays) – finger millet (Eleusine crocana)- cowpea (Vigna sinensis) cropping sequence in the Experimental Farm of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Soil samples were processed, sterilized and maize plants were grown in various fertility gradients in the absence (M-) or presence (M+) of AMF (Rhizoglomus intraradices) inoculation. The data have clearly shown that M+ soils had consistently higher active pools such as water soluble carbon, hot water soluble carbon and biomass carbon (M- 189; M + 305 mg kg^?1), and passive pools such as soil organic carbon (M- 4.17; M + 4.31 mg g^?1) and total glomalin. Among the fertility gradients, 100% NPK + Farm Yard Manure (FYM) with or without mycorrhizal fungal inoculation registered higher values for both active and passive pools of C but the response was more pronounced in the presence AMF inoculation. Overall, the data suggest that mycorrhizal fungal inoculation assists in effective carbon sequestration in an intensive cereal-legume cropping system.Abbreviations: AMF: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; DAS: Days After Sowing; LTFE: Long-Term Fertilizer Experiment; WSC: Water soluble organic carbon; HA: Humic acid; FA: Fulvic acid; HWSC: Hot water soluble carbon     

Effects of cropping systems,maize residues application and N fertilization on promiscuous soybean yields and diversity of native rhizobia in Central Kenya

Agriculture intensification has resulted in severe soil nutrient depletion in Africa. Alternative agricultural practices have been promoted to reduce the use of expensive mineral fertilizers and to restore and sustain soil fertility. The use of mineral fertilizer combined with organic inputs (such as crop residues) and different cropping systems (cereal–legume association or rotation) have been particularly promising. Impacts of these agricultural practices on soil communities have been widely studied, yet little is known on the effect on more specific groups such as rhizobia. A field trial was set up in Chuka (Kenya) to assess the impact of different cropping systems (maize and soybean in intercropping, rotation or monocropping) combined with N fertilization and residues application on the genetic diversity of promiscuous soybean rhizobia during two seasons. Soybean yields were severely reduced by moisture stress and the association with maize compared to mono-legume and rotation systems. Nodulation was generally low but was positively affected by residues application. Diversity of native rhizobia was very low (Shannon indices H′ < 0.8) across the experiment and was not affected by the treatments. Only 5 IGS profiles were obtained after RFLP analysis and all isolated rhizobia were identified as Bradyrhizobium elkanii. The distribution of the different IGS groups within the experiment was more affected by season and residues application than by cropping system and nitrogen fertilizer application. These results suggest a limited population and a low diversity of indigenous rhizobia, and emphasize the need of alternative managements to increase and sustain soybean yields in Central Kenya.     

大豆/玉米间作体系中接种AM真菌和根瘤菌对氮素吸收的促进作用

利用大豆和玉米之间根系不同分隔方式的盆栽试验,研究了在玉米/大豆间作体系中接种大豆根瘤菌、AM真菌Glomus mosseae和双接种对间作体系氮素吸收的促进作用。结果表明,双接种处理显著提高了大豆及与其间作玉米的生物量、氮含量,双接种大豆/玉米间作体系总吸氮量比单接AM菌根、根瘤菌和不接种对照平均分别增加22.6%、24.0%和54.9%。大豆促进了与其间作玉米对氮素的吸收作用,在接种AM真菌和双接种条件,间作玉米的AM真菌侵染率提高,大豆根瘤数增加; 接种AM真菌处理,不分隔和尼龙网分隔比完全分隔玉米吸氮量的净增加量是未接种对照的1.8、2.6倍,双接种处理分别是对照的1.3和1.7倍。说明在间作体系中进行有效的根瘤菌和AM真菌接种,发挥两者的协同作用对提高间作体系土壤养分利用效率,进一步提高间作体系的生产力有重要的意义。     

Impact of a 5-year winter cover crop rotational system on the molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing roots of subsequent soybean

The impact of winter cover crops, specifically wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) or winter fallow, on community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in subsequent soybean roots was investigated in a 5-year field trial on andosolic soils in Japan. Soybean roots were sampled at full-flowering and analyzed for AMF communities using a partial LSU rDNA region. Phylogenetic analysis detected 22 AMF phylotypes, including eight Glomus, three Gigaspora, two Scutellospora, three Acaulospora, two Rhizophagus, and one of Funneliformis, Diversispora, Paraglomus, and an unknown glomeromycete in the roots. The 5-year rotation of different winter cover crops or winter fallow did not impact the molecular diversity of AMF communities colonizing the roots of subsequent soybean. In all of the rotations, Glomus and Gigaspora phylotypes were common to soybean roots over the 5-year period. Redundancy analysis (RDA) demonstrated that AMF communities in the roots of subsequent soybean were not significantly different among winter cover crop rotations or fallow. However, AMF communities in soybean roots were clearly influenced by rotation year suggesting that climate or other environmental factors were more important than winter cover cropping system management.     

Response of Mucuna pruriens to symbiotic nitrogen fixation by rhizobia following inoculation in farmers' fields in the derived savanna of Benin

 Leguminous cover crops such as Mucuna pruriens (mucuna) have the potential to contribute to soil N and increase the yields of subsequent or associated cereal crops through symbiotic N fixation. It has often been assumed that mucuna will freely nodulate, fix N₂ and therefore contribute to soil N. However, results of recent work have indicated mucuna's failure to nodulate in some farmers' fields in the derived savanna in Benin. One of the management practices that can help to improve mucuna establishment and growth is the use of rhizobial inocula to ensure compatibility between the symbiotic partners. Experiments were conducted in 1995 and 1996 on 15 farmers' fields located in three different villages (Eglimé, Zouzouvou and Tchi) in the derived savanna in Benin. The aim was to determine the response of mucuna to inoculation and examine the factors affecting it when grown in relay cropping with maize. The actual amount of N₂ fixed by mucuna in the farmers' fields at 20 weeks after planting (WAP) averaged 60 kg N ha^–1 (range: 41–76 kg N ha^–1) representing 55% (range: 49–58%) of the plant total N. The result suggested that mucuna in these farmers' fields could not meet its total N demand for growth and seed production only by N₂ fixation. It was estimated that after grain removal mucuna led to a net N contribution ranging from –37 to 30 kg N ha^–1. Shoot dry weight at 20 WAP varied between 1.5 and 8.7 t ha^–1 and N accumulation ranged from 22 to 193 kg N ha^–1. Inoculation increased shoot dry matter by an average of 28% above the uninoculated treatments, but the increase depended on the field, location and year. For the combinations of inoculated treatments and farmers' fields, the response frequency was higher in Eglimé and Tchi than in Zouzouvou. The response to inoculated treatments was dependent on the field and inversely related to the numbers of rhizobia in the soil. Soil rhizobial populations ranged from 0 to >188 cells g^–1 soil, and response to inoculation often occurred when numbers of indigenous rhizobia were <5 cells g^–1 soil. In two farmers' fields at Zouzouvou where extractable P was below 10 μg g^–1 soil, mucuna did not respond to rhizobial inoculation despite a higher population of rhizobia. Significant relationships between mycorrhizal colonization, growth and nodulation of mucuna were observed, and inoculated plants with rhizobia had a higher rate of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (%AMF) than uninoculated ones. Therefore, it was shown that mucuna will establish and fix N₂ effectively in those fields where farmer's management practices such as good crop rotation and rhizobial inoculation allow a build up of AMF spores that might lead to a high degree of AMF infection and alleviate P deficiency. Received: 14 June 1999     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affect the growth,nutrient uptake and water status of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in two types of coal mine spoils under drought stress

Drought stress greatly affects the growth and development of plants in coal mine spoils located in the Inner Mongolia grassland ecosystem. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase plant tolerance to drought. However, little is known regarding the contribution of AMF to plants that are grown in different types of coal mine spoils under drought stress. To evaluate the mycorrhizal effects on the drought tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in weathered (S1) and spontaneously combusted (S2) coal mine spoils, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices on the growth, nutrient uptake, carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry and water status of maize under well-watered, moderate and severe drought stress conditions. The results indicated that drought stress increased mycorrhizal colonization and decreased plant dry weights, nutrient contents, leaf moisture percentage of fresh weight (LMP), water use efficiency (WUE) and rehydration rate. A high level of AMF colonization ranging from 65 to 90% was observed, and the mean root colonization rates in S1 were lower than those in S2. In both substrates, inoculation with R. intraradices significantly improved the plant growth, P contents, LMP and WUE and decreased the C:P and N:P ratios of plants under drought stress. In addition, maize grown in S1 and S2 exhibited different wilting properties in response to AMF inoculation, and plant rehydration after drought stress occurred faster in mycorrhizal plants. The results suggested that inoculation with R. intraradices played a more positive role in improving the drought stress resistance of plants grown in S2 than those grown in S1. AMF inoculation has a beneficial effect on plant tolerance to drought and effectively facilitates the development of plants in different coal mine spoils.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Contribute to Resistance of Upland Rice to Combined Metal Contamination of Soil

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate heavy metal [copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)] uptake by two upland rice cultivars, ‘91B3’ and ‘277’, grown in a sterilized field soil contaminated by a mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. Rice plants were inoculated with each of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Glomus versiforme (GV), Glomus mosseae (GM), and Glomus diaphanum (GD), or remained noninoculated (NM). Both rice cultivars could be colonized by the three AMF used in this experiment. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization by the three AMFs on the two rice cultivars ranged from 30% to 70%. Mycorrhizal colonization of both upland rice cultivars had a large influence on plant growth by increasing the shoot and root biomass compared with non-inoculated (NM) plants. The results indicate that mycorrhiza exert some protective effects against the combined toxicity of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the contaminated soil. This conclusion is supported by the partitioning of heavy metals (HMs) in the two cultivars. In the two cultivars, colonization by AMF reduced the translocation of HMs from root to shoot (except that the colonization of AMF increased the Cu translocation of HMs in cultivar ‘277’). Immobilization of the HMs in roots can alleviate the potential toxicity to shoots induced by the mixture of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd. The two rice cultivars showed significant differences in uptake of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd when uninoculated. GM inoculation gave the most protective effects on the two cultivars under the combined soil contamination.     

Effect of winter wheat cover cropping with no-till cultivation on the community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing the subsequent soybean

Winter cover crops increase the amount of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil, providing beneficial effects such as enhancement of phosphorus uptake by the subsequent crop. However, its impact on the AMF community structure is not well understood. In the present study, we aimed to reveal the effect of winter wheat cover cropping with no-till cultivation on the AMF community structures in soil and roots of the subsequent soybean. For this purpose, we conducted a field experiment consisting of two treatments, no-till soybean cultivation after winter wheat cover cropping (NTWC) and conventional soybean cultivation after winter fallow management as a control (CONT). At the flowering stage of soybean, higher AMF colonization of soybean roots was observed in the NTWC plots compared with the CONT plots. Additionally, aboveground biomass and phosphorus uptake of soybean in the NTWC plots were significantly higher than those in the CONT plots. Molecular community analyses based on PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of AMF 18S rRNA genes indicated that the AMF community structures in the soil and soybean root of the NTWC plots were clearly different from those of the CONT plots. The DGGE profiles showed that the wheat cover cropping preferentially increased some phylotypes belonging to Glomeraceae and Claroideoglomeraceae. In addition, most of the phylotypes were characteristically observed in the subsequent soybean root of the NTWC plots, strongly suggesting that these phylotypes colonizing the cover crop wheat were taken over by the subsequent soybean. Our study revealed the significant effect of winter cover cropping with no-till cultivation on the structure of AMF community colonizing the subsequent soybean.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in sesame under low-input cropping systems

The abundance and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are generally low under managed agroecosystems in comparison to natural ecosystems. The objective of the study was to determine the composition and species richness of AMF associated with sesame under traditional low-input cropping system in Kerala, India. Wide variability in root colonization by AMF as well as spore density in the rhizosphere existed in sesame. Correlation between frequency of colonization (F%) and spore density as well as between these variables and soil characteristics showed a negative relationship. The fungal variables were influenced by soil factors such as pH, soil organic carbon (OC) and available nutrients. Frequency of colonization was positively correlated (P < 0.01) with soil pH and potassium (K) and negatively correlated with OC, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). AM spore density was positively correlated with OC, N and P and negatively correlated with pH and K. Ten taxa of AMF belonging to the genera Acaulospora, Diversispora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, Glomus and Scutellospora were associated with sesame, with the predominance of Funneliformis and Acaulospora in both frequency and relative abundance over a wider soil nutrient range. Soil characteristics appear to have a profound influence on the composition and species richness of AMF under traditional low-input cropping systems.     

Can introduced and indigenous rhizobial strains compete for nodule formation by promiscuous soybean in the moist savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria?

Promiscuous soybean lines have been bred on the basis that they would nodulate freely without artificial inoculation. However, our recent studies have demonstrated that the indigenous rhizobia are not able to meet their full nitrogen (N) requirement. Rhizobia inoculation might be necessary. We examined the competition for nodule formation among native Rhizobia spp. and two inoculated Bradyrhizobia strains (R25B indigenous strain and a mixture of R25B+IRj 2180A indigenous strain from soybean lines in the savanna of northern Nigeria), their effect on N fixation, and their contribution to the yield of four soybean cultivars, grown in the field in three different agroecological zones in the moist savanna of Nigeria. About 34% of nodules were formed by the mixture of introduced R25B+IRj 2180A, while R25B formed only about 24% of the nodules but did not influence biomass and grain yield production. The indigenous rhizobia strains that nodulated the soybean varieties fixed up to 70% of their accumulated total N, confirming the promiscuous nature of these soybean varieties. Even though these varieties fixed about 75 kg N ha ^-1; this was not enough to sustain their optimum grain yield, as earlier reported. However, the grain yield from inoculated soybean was not significantly higher than that from the uninoculated soybean, showing a degree of competitiveness among the introduced rhizobial strains and the native rhizobia population.     

Response of a wild-type and modern cowpea cultivars to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in sterilized and non-sterilized soil

Cowpea is an important crop that serves as a legume and vegetable source to many smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Soil fertility is a significant limitation to its production thus; inoculation with beneficial soil biota such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could improve its performance. However, plant–AMF interaction could vary based on crop cultivar hence affecting overall crop production. The present study aimed at determining the effect of AMF inoculation and soil sterilization on root colonization and growth of a wild-type and three modern cowpea cultivars grown by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Potted cowpea plants were inoculated with a commercial AMF inoculum comprising of Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus aggregatum and Glomus etunicatum and maintained in a greenhouse for 40 days. After harvesting, mycorrhizal colonization, nodule number and dry weight, root and shoot dry weights, nitrogen (N,) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content were determined. Interestingly, the modern cultivars showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher root colonization, nodulation, shoot P and N compared to the wild-type cultivar. Moreover, a strong positive correlation between AMF root colonization and shoot P (r² = 0.73, 0.90, p < 0.001), AMF root colonization and shoot N (r² = 0.78; 0.89, p < 0.001) was observed in both sterilized and non-sterilized soil, respectively. Soil sterilization affected root colonization and growth parameters with plants grown in non-sterilized soil performing better than those grown in sterilized soil. This study provides major evidence that modern cowpea cultivars are still responsive to mycorrhizal inoculation suggesting that modern breeding programs are not deleterious AMF symbiosis.     

Responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to straw return and nitrogen fertilizer reduction in a rainfed maize field

Straw return can be used to reduce fertilizer input and improve agricultural sustainability and soil health. However, how straw return and reduced fertilizer application affect beneficial soil microbes, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted a five-year field experiment in a rainfed maize field on the Loess Plateau of northwestern China. We tested four treatments with straw return combined with four nitrogen (N) application rates, i.e., 100%, 80%, 60%, and 0% of the common N application rate (225 kg N ha^-1 year^-1) in this region, and two reference treatments (full or no N application), with three replicates for each treatment. Mycorrhizal colonization was quantified and AMF communities colonizing maize roots were characterized using Illumina sequencing. Forty virtual taxa (VTs) of AMF were identified in root samples, among which VT113 (related to Rhizophagus fasciculatus) and VT156 (related to Dominikia gansuensis) were the predominant taxa. Both root length colonization and AMF VT richness were sensitive to N fertilization, but not to straw return; furthermore, both gradually increased with decreasing N application rate. The VT composition of the AMF community was also affected by N fertilization, but not by straw return, and the community variation could be well explained by soil available N and phosphorus concentrations. Additionally, 60%, 80%, and full N fertilization produced similar maize yields. Thus, our study revealed the response patterns of AMF to straw return and N fertilizer reduction and showed that straw return combined with N fertilizer reduction may be a promising practice to maintain mycorrhizal symbiosis concomitantly with crop productivity.     

Assessment of soil factors limiting growth and establishment of Mucuna in farmers' fields in the derived savanna of the Benin Republic

Mucuna pruriens was been used to control Imperata cylindrica and improve soil fertility in maize and cassava cropping systems in the derived savanna of the Benin Republic, West Africa. However, field observations showed that Mucuna had poor establishment in some farmers' fields. This could be due in part to the poor symbiotic effectiveness of Mucuna and/or its poor nutrition because of mineral deficiencies in the soil. A short-term survey was carried out in 34 farmers' fields located in four different sites (Zouzouvou, Eglime, Tchi, and Niaouli) in the derived savanna to assess the natural nodulation and mycorrhizal infection of Mucuna. This survey was followed by a nutrient-omission trial conducted in a pot experiment using soil collected from two groups of farmers' fields at Zouzouvou where Mucuna had poor establishment. Mycorrhizal infection ranged from 2 to 31% and correlated positively with nodulation and shoot dry matter production of plants grown only in one site at Zouzouvou. The number of rhizobia ranged between <0.05 (near the detection limit) and 15 cells g^-1 soil depending on the plot history and the fields. Nodulation occurred in 79% of the fields with numbers of nodules ranging from 0 to 135 plant^-1. The nutrient-omission trial showed that when N and P were absent in the complete fertilizer treatment, biomass production decreased significantly, on average by 69% (N) and 33% (P). Mg, S, K and micronutrient deficiencies did not reduce significantly the biomass production in the two groups. However, N fertilizer applied additionally each week to some treatments drastically reduced Mucuna nodulation. Strategies to enhance Mucuna establishment and growth are discussed.     

Response of Different Crops to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Inoculation in Phosphorus-Deficient Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the capability to improve crop yields by increasing plant nutrient supply. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine the response of AMF inoculation on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), mash bean (Vigna mungo L.), and mung bean (Vigna radiata. L.) crops during 2008. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in three replications using phosphorus (P)–deficient soil. Three plants were grown in 10 kg soil up to the stage of maximum growth for 70 days. Spores of AMF were isolated from rhizosphere of freshly growing wheat and berseem crops and mixed with sterilized soil with fine particles. Crops were inoculated in the presence of indigenous mycorrhiza with the inoculum containing 20 g sterilized soil mixed with 40–50 AMF spores. Inoculation with AMF improved yield and nutrient uptake by different crops significantly over uninoculated crops. Inoculated millet crop showed 20% increase in shoot dry matter and 21% in root dry matter when compared with other inoculated crops. Increases of 67% in plant nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) were observed in millet, 166% in plant P uptake was observed in mash beans, 186% in zinc (Zn) was measured in maize, and 208% in copper (Cu) and 48% in manganese (Mn) were noted in sorghum crops. Maximum root infection intensity of 35% by AMF and their soil spore density were observed in millet crop followed by 32% in mash beans. Results suggest that inoculation of AMF may play a role in improving crop production and the varied response of different crops to fungi signifies the importance of evaluating the compatibility of the fungi and plant host species.     

Survey of Mycorrhizal Colonization in Native,Open-Pollinated,and Introduced Hybrid Maize in Villages of Chiquimula,Guatemala

Replacing native plant types with introduced cultivars may have unexpected cropping system consequences. Native species and introduced cultivars may vary in their ability to form mycorrhizal symbioses with soil fungi and consequently affect phosphorus (P) nutrition. Low-input cropping systems often depend on mycorrhiza for adequate nutrition and growth, while high-input systems minimize the benefit of and need for colonization. Studies in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) suggest that improving cultivars reduced the ability to form mycorrhiza. This study was conducted at six sites in the province of Chiquimula, Guatemala, to determine the difference in mycorrhizal infection rates between two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars—‘Cushpeño,’ a native, open-pollinated variety, and ‘HB-83,’ an introduced, improved hybrid. The ‘HB-83’ was colonized at a significantly lower percentage (67%) than was ‘Cushpeño’ (72%; α = 0.0137). A strong negative correlation (r = ?0.953) existed between Mehlich-3 extractable soil P and differences in mycorrhizal colonization rates between the two genotypes. The full impact of lower colonization rates of the introduced hybrid on sustainability of the village agricultural system needs further investigation.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities inhabiting the roots and the soil of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under different agricultural management practices

Crocus sativus L. cultivation is expanding to areas with low soil fertility, where mycorrhizal fungi are supposed to be essential for plants growth and ecosystems functioning. Agricultural practices applied under these conditions should lead to good saffron productivity and quality. Our objective was to study the density and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi populations associated with saffron grown in Taliouine (Morocco) under different agricultural management practices (fertilization type, age and plantation method). Morpho-anatomical studies identified rhizospheric mycorrhizal spores and assessed root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Molecular identification of AMF was realized by sequencing the Large Subunit (LSU) rDNA gene region. Among the eleven species of AMF spores identified, Funneliformis and Rhizoglomus species were the most abundant (> 35%). Modern saffron plantation showed higher roots colonization rates (mycorrhization intensity (100%) and frequency (51.6%)), while in traditional plantations lower mycorrhization frequency values were found (17.4%). LSU sequencing identified five AMF genera and three unknown genomic groups, whereas Shannon diversity index indicated that AMF community composition changed significantly according to plantation age and fertilization type. Our results contribute to a better knowledge of saffron AMF communities and open new perspectives for a rational utilization of the agricultural practices for organic saffron production.