Association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with leguminous crops grown in different agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh

Abstract

The association of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi with different leguminous crops in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh was assessed through a survey. A total of 10 leguminous crops were examined at five AEZs in Bangladesh. Among the selected crops grasspea, lentil, chickpea, mungbean, cowpea, blackgram, gardenpea, and soybean were highly mycotrophic. Poor mycorrhizal association was found in bushbean and groundnut. Variations in AM colonization and spore population were observed in different leguminous crops in different AEZs in Bangladesh. Root colonization ranged from 20–75.6, 20–80, 14.4–68.9, 20–75.6 and 20–60% and that of number of spores ranged from 89.4–495, 40–390, 89–390, 99.6–298 and 100–295 100 g−1 soil at AEZs 3,11,12,18 and 28, respectively. The AM fungal structures (hyphae, arbuscules and vesicles) in the root system of the above mentioned leguminous crops varied. Glomus was the most common genus of AM while Sclerocystis was the least prevalent genus in the rhizosphere soil.