A preliminary study on the status of vesicular Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations with mangrove plants in North and North Western parts of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The symbiosis between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and mangrove plant species was investigated in two mangrove swamps in North and Northwestern parts of Sri Lanka. From the two representative sites, five composite soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-20 cm. AMF spores were extracted using wet sieving and decanting method. Five most common mangrove plants species were identified and their root samples were extracted to assess the colonization potential of AMF. The results were compared using a one-way ANOVA in Minitab 16.0. AMF were mostly found in the form of hyphae and were commonly associated with most of the mangrove species investigated. AMF species belonging to Glomus, Gigaspora, Scutellospora and Acaulospora were identified in both areas. Root colonization was observed on all species except one. AMF root colonization was recorded in two sites and ranged from 2% to 22%. Maximum root colonization was recorded in Excoecaria agallocha (22%) and minimum colonization in Rhizophora apiculata (2.6 %). AM fungal root colonization varied by plant species and site. Lumnitzera racemosa was common to both areas and the colonization potential was high in Jaffna compared to Pambala, but was not significant (at p < 0.554). In total, 8 genera of AM fungi were identified in both sites.