International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 2
First page : (1) Last page : (8)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2641
Occurrence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nodules in the Roots of Three Acacia Species in South-western Saudi Arabia
Mahdhi Mosbah1*, Tounekti Taieb1, Abada Emad2,3 and Khemira Habib1
1Center for Environmental Research and Studies, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1Biology department, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1Botany and microbiology department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Egypt
*Corresponding Author E-mail: mosbahtn@yahoo.fr
Received: 27.02.2017 | Revised: 10.03.2017 | Accepted: 11.03.2017
ABSTRACT
Acacia trees play an important role in the restoration and maintenance of soil fertility. The aims of this study were to evaluate natural nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization of the roots of three Acacia species (Acacia tortilis, A. ehrenbergiana, A. negrii) growing in South-western Saudi Arabia. Mycorrhizal status was assessed by microscopic observation of root fragments after trypan blue staining. Spore density was quantified and was expressed as the total number of spores per 100 g of soil. The occurrence of natural nodulationwas also investigated. Mycorrhizal and nodulation intensity varied greatly between species. The roots of A. negrii had the highest AMF root colonization and nodulation (47±2.2 % and 27 nodules, respectively). Rhizosphere soils harbored AMF fungal spores ranging from 161.3 spore per 100 g of soil in A. tortilis to 423.3 spore per 100 g of soil in A. negrii. Thus, Acacia species investigated in this study are potentially useful for replanting degraded unfertile soils prevalent in most regions of Saudi Arabia.
Key words: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Acacia, nodulation, Saudi Arabia
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Mahdhi, M., Tounekti, T., Abada, E. and Khemira, H., Occurrence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nodules in the Roots of Three Acacia Species in South-western Saudi Arabia, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(2): 1-8 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2641
