Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi prevalence and diversity in Zimbabwean soils

Abstract

The prevalence and population levels of VAM fungi in a range of field soil environments in Zimbabwe were determined. The main VAM genera Acaulospora, Scutellospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Sclerocystls and Entrophospora were represented in the study sites. The relative abundance was Glomus > Acaulospora > Scutellospora > Sclerocystis > Gigaspora > Entrophospora at all sites except at Chabwino (fallow soil) and Thorn Park (sorghum) where Acaulospora < Scutellospora and Sclerocystis > Scutellospora = Acaulospora. Relative proportions of the different VAM genera were similar across soils but population sizes varied with soil management. There was no clear relationship between VAM spore numbers and cropping history although among the cultivated plots, soils that had legumes as the previous or current crop generally had higher VAM populations than under sorghum. Of the soil parameters measured, only percent organic carbon was significantly correlated with VAM numbers and infective propagules.