Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of selected millets, South Western India

Three species [Panicum miliaceum L., Panicum miliare Lam., and Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.], of Poaceae were surveyed in Gagad district, North Karnataka, South Western India, for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity. Root and soil samples of plants growing in the agricultural fields of fifteen localities were examined. Colonization by AM fungi ranged from 40% to 94% and the maximum root colonization was recorded during summer season at Doni (Kapotagiri) (93%) and minimum colonization during monsoon season at Shirahatti (44%). A total of 32 AM fungal morpho-species belonging to 9 families and 15 genera viz., Acaulospora, Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Coumbiglomus, Diversispora, Dentiscutata, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, Glomus, Paraglomus, Quatunica, Redeckera, Rhizophagus, Sclerocystis, and Scutellospora were recorded. Highest isolation frequency (IF) and relative abundance (RA) was found in Archaeospora (IF=140; RA=14.79) and lowest for Diversispora (IF=20; RA=1.36). Results also revealed that Glomus was the dominant genus.