Species composition and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in White Nile state, Central Sudan

A survey was conducted in 13 selected crops in the White Nile state, Central Sudan, to assess root colonization, spore densities and species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) based on morphological aspects. For each crop, four samples were taken from one field. Additionally, an attempt was made to study the relationship between soil physico-chemical properties and AMF colonization rates, spore densities, species richness and other selected AMF diversity indices. The mean percentage of AMF colonization across all crops was 34%, ranging from 19% to 50%. The spore densities retrieved from the different rhizospheres were relatively high, varying from 344 to 1222 spores per 100 g dry soil with a mean of 798. There was no correlation between AMF spore densities in the soil and the root colonization rates. A total of 42 morphologically classifiable species representing 14 genera of AMF were detected without correlation between species richness in the soil and the spore densities. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the similarity among AMF communities with respect to crop species overall showed that species compositions were relatively similar to the highest dissimilarities of about 25% dividing three of the four mango samples and the four sorghum samples from all other samples.