Journal of Basic and Applied Mycology Volume 12 Issue II 2016 ISSN: (P) ISSN: (O) Available online at

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1 Journal of Basic and Applied Mycology Volume 12 Issue II 2016 ISSN: (P) ISSN: (O) Available online at Diversity and status of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the ornamental plants growing under natural conditions at different sites of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh Rani Mishra, Harbans Kaur Kehri * and Ovaid Akhtar Sadasivan Myco-Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India A R T I C L E I N F O Article History: Received 01 April 2016 Accepted 10 Aug 2016 Keywords: AM fungi diversity Ornamental plants Species richness Glomus Article Type: Full Length Research Paper A B S T R A C T Flowers are highly demanded throughout the globe due to change in people s life style and standard of living. In India floriculture can contribute significantly in the economy if a technology is developed which may enhance the quality and production of flowers in an integrated way and ecofriendly manner that reduces the cost of cultivation. Knowing to the importance of ornamental plants, five highly demanded ornamental plants were selected for the purpose of survey to study the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and trends of mycorrhization from seven different sites located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. All the species were found to be mycorrhizal but the extent varied with plants as well as sites. A total of 53 species belonging to four different genera of AM fungi were isolated as the most dominant forms associated with the ornamental plants. Glomus was recorded as the most dominant genus with 31 species, followed by Acaulospora with 16 species, Gigaspora with five species, Scutellospora with a single unidentified species. Shannon Weiner diversity index, Simpson Index of Dominance, Species richness and Species evenness studies carried out in these sites showed less variation in all the sites, exhibiting a stable and a diverse fungal community. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between spore density and organic carbon content while a negative correlation was found between spore density and phosphorus value Society for Basic and Applied Mycology All Rights Reserved. INTRODUCTION World would not have been as beautiful, charming and cherishing as it is today, without flowers. Flowers symbolize purity, peace, beauty, love and passion apart from providing fresh air and fragrance. Billions of these flowers are used every day all over the world. The international trade of floriculture is increasing day by day and most of the global trade is of cut-flowers. * Corresponding author: kehrihk@rediffmail.com (Harbans Kaur Kehri)

2 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , Major cut flowers of Indian and global markets are chrysanthemum, rose, gladiolus, tulip, marigold, carnation, orchids etc. But still in India commercial cultivation of cut flower is very expensive for the growers due to high need of the fertilizers and irrigation. Large scale use of chemical fertilizers is also a major cause of environmental pollution. In view of this there is a need to develop a low cost technology which may be economically viable, eco-friendly and sustainable. Now-a-days application of AM fungi has been recognized as a promising bio-tool to improve the growth and yield of the plants. These fungi have shown their potentiality to increase the uptake of P, N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Na and B and water besides increasing the efficiency of fertilizers. To exploit these fungi in improving the production of cut flowers at low cost, it is essential to know their mycorrhizal status and dependency of the host plants on them. In view of this, the present work was undertaken to study the mycorrhization, diversity, species evenness and species richness of AM fungi associated with some of the important ornamental plants cultivated at different sites of Allahabad. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample Collection Soil samples were collected from different sites leaving surface soil up to a depth of 5cm and were brought under aseptically to the laboratory. Root samples of the ornamental plants along with their rhizospheric soils were collected. Samples of at least three individuals per plant were collected and mixed. Samples were brought back to the laboratory and the roots of the plants along with the fine roots present in the rhizospheric soils were washed with tap water and processed for the determination of root colonization. Soil samples were air dried in shade at room temperature and sieved for the estimation of AM spore population and diversity. Analysis of soil sample Collected soil samples were air dried, sieved and soil extract was prepared [1]. Soil ph and electrical conductivity were measured with a digital ph meter and a digital EC meter. Total organic carbon [2], phosphorus [3], nitrogen [4] and potassium [5] was estimated. Soil characteristics of different sites are presented in Table 1. Isolation of AM Fungi Isolated the AM spores by wet sieving and decanting method from collected soil samples [6]. Identification of AM fungi Identified the isolated AM spores, using the synoptic keys [7-10] and INVAM species guide. AMF Spores Population AMF spore population was counted by the New Plate Method [11]. One gram of moist soil was added to 9.0 ml of distilled water in a test tube capped with a cotton plug. The tube was then vigorously agitated by hand and 1.0 ml was immediately pipetted in parallel lines onto a 9 cm filter paper disc in a petridish. The filter paper was then scanned under a dissecting microscope and the spores were counted. AM Root bits infection Intensity of AM colonization in the root samples were determined [12]. For quantification of AM colonization 100 root bits were mounted on slides [10] root bits/slide) in lactophenol and examined under a compound microscope. Frequency, Abundance, Density, Diversity and Eveness of AMF Species Species frequency, abundance, density, diversity, species richness and eveness of AM fungi were expressed as follows: Frequency=. Abundance=.. Density=.

3 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , Table 1. Edaphic features of the agricultural soils collected from different sites of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Sites Soil texture ph EC (m.mhos.cm -1 ) Organic Carbon (%) Nitrogen (%) Phosphorus (mg Kg -1 ) Potassium (mg Kg -1 ) Company Garden loamy 6.8± ± ± ± ± ±0.09 Civil Lines Nursery loamy 7.1± ± ± ± ± ±0.04 Bank Road Nursery loamy 7.1± ± ± ± ± ±0.07 Roxburgh Botanical Garden loamy 6.9± ± ± ± ± ±0.04 SHIATS loamy 7.3± ± ± ± ± ±0.02 Naini loamy 6.5± ± ± ± ± ±0.02 Anand Bhawan loamy 7.5± ± ± ± ± ±0.07 Table 2. Distribution of AM spores at different sites of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. AM Spores/Survey Sites S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 D F A Acaulospora bireticulata Rothwell and Trappe Acaulospora delicata Walker, Pfeiffer and Bloss Acaulospora denticulata Sieverding and Toro Acaulospora laevis Gerdemann and Trappe Acaulospora scrobiculata Trappe Acaulospora foveatatrappe & Janos Acaulospora lacunosa Morton Acaulospora longula Spain and Schenck Acaulospora mellea Spain and Schenck Acaulospora morrowae Spain and Schenck Acaulospora trappei Ames and Linderman Acaulospora sp Acaulospora sp Acaulospora sp Acaulospora sp

4 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , Acaulospora sp Glomus aggregatum Schenck and Smith emend. Koske Glomus australe (Berk.) S. M. Berch Glomus dimorphicum Boyetchko and Tewari Glomus fasciculatum (Thax.) Gerdemann and Trappe Glomus reticulatum Bhattacharjee and Mukerji Glomus coronatus Giovann Glomus clarum Nicolson and Schenck Glomus constrictum Trappe Glomus diaphanum J. B. Morton and C. Walker Glomus heterosporum G. S. Sm. & N. C. Schenck Glomus hoi S. M. Berch and Trappe Glomus invermiumi. R. Hall Glomus magnicaulei. R. Hall Glomus mosseae (Nicolson and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe Glomus botryoidesf. M. Rothwell & Victor Glomus geosporus (Nicol. and Gerd.) C. Walker Glomus kerguelensedalpe and Strullu Glomus occultum Walker Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith Glomus versiforme (P. Karsten) S. M. Berch Glomus ambisporum G. S. Sm. & N. C. Schenck Glomus aureum Oehl and Sieverd Glomus claroiedum Schenck and Smith Glomus pallidum I. R. Hall Glomus macrocarpum Tul. and C. Tul Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann Glomus walkeri Blaszk and C. Renker

5 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , Glomus fuegianum (Speg.) Trappe and Gerdemann Glomus microcarpumtul. and C. Tul Glomus sp Glomus sp Gigaspora pellucidat. H. Nicolson & N. C. Schenck Gigaspora margarita W. N. Becker and I. R. Hall Gigaspora roseat. H. Nicolson & N. C. Schenck Gigaspora sp Gigaspora sp Scutellospora sp S1- Company Garden S4- Roxburgh Botanical Garden S7- Anand Bhawan D- Density S2- Civil Lines Nursery S5- SHIATS F- Frequency S3- Bank Road Nursery S6- Naini A- Abundance Table 3. Diversity of AM fungal spores at selected sites, Allahabad. Parameters S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 Total number of Spores Shannon s Diversity Index Simpson Index of Dominance Species Richness Species Evenness Density * Frequency * Abundance * S1- Company Garden S4- Roxburgh Botanical Garden S7- Anand Bhawan S2- Civil Lines Nursery S5- SHIATS * - Average/site S3- Bank Road Nursery S6- Naini - (/10g of air dried soil)

6 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , A- Acaulospora mellea F- Glomus occultum K- Glomus fugienum B- Glomus magnicaule G- Acaulospora lacunosa L- Glomus intraradices D3 C- Glomus ambisporum H- Glomus aureum M- Acaulospora scrobiculata D- Glomus dimorphicum I- Gigaspora pellucida N- Glomus geosporus E- Glomus invermium J- Glomus australe O- Glomus aggragatum P- Glomus clarum Plate-1. Dominant AM spores isolated from the agricultural soils of different sites at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

7 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , A-Company garden C-Bank road nursery E-SHIATS G-Anand bhawan B-Civil lines nursery D-Roxburgh Botanical Garden F-Naini Plate 2. Root bits infection in the roots of ornamental plants collected from different sites of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

8 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , AM species diversity was calculated by following formula: Shanon-Weiner diversity index = - (Pi lnpi) Pi = proportion of individual of species i Simpson index of dominance= (Pi) 2 Pi = proportion of individual of species i Species richness is calculated by Margalef s indices of richness = (S-1)/ln N Species eveness is calculated by Pielou s index = H = Shanon-Weiner diversity index H max = maximum Shanon-Weiner diversity index Pearson s correlation coefficient was calculated by following formula: ( )( ) R = ( ) ( ) N = Numbers of pairs of variables x = Sum of x variables y = Sum of y variables Mycorrhizal root colonization Mycorrhizal root colonization was done by Rapid clearing and Staining method [12]. The percent AM root colonization was calculated by using the formula: Mycorrhizal intensity = 100. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The mycorrhizal status of flowering plants collected from different sites located at Allahabad was estimated in terms of mycorrhizal infection in roots and spore population in the rhizospheric soils. A total of five ornamental plants belonging to three different families from seven different sites of Allahabad were collected. These sites were Roxburgh Botanical Garden, Anand Bhavan campus, Company Garden, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHIATS) campus, Civil lines nursery, Bank road nursery, and Naini. The root and soil samples of five ornamental plants viz., Tagetes erecta L., Asteramellus L. and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. belong to family Asteraceae, Rosa indica L. to Rosaceae and Papaver somniferuml. to Papaveraceae were collected. All the plant species showed mycorrhizal infection in their roots. However, the magnitude of infection and spore population varied with the sites and plant species. Range of infection was from 27.66% to 65.66%. Maximum infection was recorded in Tagetes at Naini while minimum in poppy at Bank road nursery (Figure 1 and Plate 1). Likewise the range of spore population was from 16 spores/20g soil to 72 spores/20g soil. Maximum spores were recorded in Tagetes at Naini while minimum in poppy at Bank road nursery (Figure 1 and Plate 2). AMF spore population, diversity, density, frequency, abundance species richness and species eveness at different survey sites of Allahabad A variety of AM spores were isolated and identified from the rhizospheric soils of the plants under study. Mostly they were the species of Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora and Scutellospora. A total of 53 species belonging to four different genera of AM fungi were isolated as the most dominant forms associated with the ornamental plants. Glomus was recorded as the most dominant genus with 31 species, viz. G. aggregatum Schenck and Smith emend. Koske, G. australe (Berk.) S.M. Berch, G. dimorphicum Boyetchko and Tewari, G. fasciculatum (Thax.) Gerdemann and Trappe, G. reticulatum Bhattacharjee and Mukerji, G. coronatus Giovann., G. clarum Nicolson and Schenck, G. constrictum Trappe, G. diaphanum J. B. Morton and C. Walker, G. heterosporum G. S. Sm. & N. C. Schenck, G. hoi S. M. Berch and Trappe, G. invermium I. R. Hall, G. magnicaule (Nicolson and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe, G. mosseae, G. botryoides F. M. Rothwell & Victor, G. geosporus (Nicol. and Gerd.) C. Walker, G. kerguelense Dalpe and Strullu, G. occultum Walker, G. intraradices Schenck and Smith, G. versiforme (P. Karsten) S. M. Berch, G. ambisporum G. S. Sm. & N. C. Schenck, G. aureum Oehl and Sieverd., G. claroiedum

9 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , % Root bits infection at different sites % Root bits infection S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 SITES Chrysanthemum Aster Shannon's Diversity Index S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 AMF spore population/20g of soil at different sites AMF spore population S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 SITES Chrysanthemum Aster S1-Company garden S3-Bank road nursery S5-SHIATS S7-Anand bhawan S2-Civil lines nursery S4-Roxburgh Botanical Garden S6-Naini. Figure 1. Mycorrhization. Schenck and Smith, G. pallidum I. R. Hall, G. macrocarpum Tul. and C. Tul, G. etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann, G. walkeri Blaszk and C. Renker, G. fuegianum (Speg.) Trappe and Gerdemann, G. microcarpum Tul. and C. Tul., and two unidentified species named Glomus sp. 1 and Glomus sp. 2. followed by Acaulospora with 16 species, viz. A. bireticulata Rothwell and Trappe, A. delicata Walker, Pfeiffer and Bloss, A. denticulate Sieverding and Toro, A. laevis Gerdemann and Trappe, A. scrobiculata Trappe, A. foveata Trappe & Janos, A.lacunose Morton, A. longula Spain and Schenck, A. mellea Spain and Schenck, A. morrowae Spain and Schenck, A. trappei Ames and Linderman, and 5unidentified species named Acaulospora sp. 1 to 5, Gigaspora with five species, viz. G. pellucida T. H. Nicolson & N.C. Schenck, G. margarita W. N. Becker and I. R. Hall, G. rosea T. H. Nicolson & N. C. Schenck, Species Richness S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 Species Evenness S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 Figure 2. Shannon's Diversity Index, Species Richness, and Species Evenness. and two unidentified species named Gigasporasp. 1 and 2 and Scutellospora with a single unidentified species. Density of Acaulospora delicata was recorded to be maximum (2.29) while minimum of Gigaspora sp.2 and Scutellospora sp. (0.14). The frequency of AMF spores was found to be ranged from 14.3 to The frequency of Acaulospora delicata was found to be maximum (85.7%) and minimum of Acaulospora laevis,

10 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , Acaulospora foveata, Acaulospora trappei, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus constrictum, Glomus magnicaule, Glomus sp. 1, Gigaspora pellucida, Gigaspora sp. 2, and Scutellospora sp. (14.3%). The abundance of AMF spores were also recorded and found to be ranged from 1.0 to 5.5.The abundance of AMF species was found to be maximum of Acaulospora bireticulata (5.5) and minimum of Glomus heterosporum, Glomus kerguelense, Glomus occultum, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus walkeri, Glomus sp. 1, Glomus sp. 2, Gigaspora pellucida, Gigaspora margarita, Gigaspora rosea, Gigaspora sp. 1, Gigaspora sp. 2, and Scutellospora sp.(1.0). Shanon - Weinner diversity index of the AMF spores at different sites was analyzed and found to be maximum at SHIATS campus (3.22) and minimum at Civil lines nursery(2.71). Simpson Index of Dominance was found to be maximum at Bank road nursery (0.08)and minimum at SHIATS and Naini (0.05). The Pielou s index of AMF species evenness at different sites was found to be ranged from 0.92 to 0.97while species richness was found to be ranged from 4.80 to 6.76 (Table 2 and Figure 2). Pearson correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation (R=0.9784) between spore density and organic carbon content while a negative correlation (R=0.9833) was found between spore density and phosphorus value (Figure 3). AM fungi is associated with 80% of vascular plant species [13-16] and have been surveyed in all continents except Antarctica [17, 18]. They are ubiquitous in their distribution and are of common occurrence in bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms [14,19]. Though the fungi show little or no host specificity to the plant species they colonize [20-22],but their occurrence and distribution is diverse and varies from place to place. This variation may be related to physicochemical properties of soil or due to variation in climatic changes [23-25].The distribution of AM fungi is influenced by environmental factors such as climate [17,26] soil properties, soil ph [18, 27, 28, 29] and plant community [18,30]. Our findings find support from the previous results of many research workers Phosphorus vs Density R² = Organic Carbon vs Density R² = Figure 2. Spore density correlation with phosphorus content and organic carbon in soil. Mycorrhizal status with different survey sites In the present study, all the selected plants showed mycorrhization but their mycorrhizal status varied with different survey sites. Maximum AM spore population and mycorrhizal association were recorded in Naini and minimum in Civil lines nursery in all the plants included in the survey. The recent studies revealed that there is direct influence of environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture and soil properties on mycorrhizal association. The physicochemical properties of soil from seven different sites have been given in Table 1. The importance of soil parameters to AMF species association with their host plant is not well known, but overall AMF production in the form of spore propagules may increase with soil ph, organic carbon [31] and clay [32] and decreases with increasing amount of phosphorus [31]. Plant mycorrhizal colonization and mycorrhizal

11 J. Basic Appl. Mycol. Vol. 12 (II), pp , dependency are negatively correlated with phosphorus concentration in the soil solution [33]. It was showed that the phosphorus uptake by AM colonized sorghum plants was enhanced by increased nitrogen availability [34]. That would in turn increase the plant growth and likewise the allocation of carbon to the AMF, which may explain the more opportunistic growth of AM fungi in soils rich in organic matter in the presence of roots [35]. The physico-chemical properties of soil collected from different sites included in survey showed significant variation in their electrical conductivity, soil ph, organic carbon, nitrogen and available phosphorus. It may be the reason behind the differences in mycorrhizal status of the ornamental plants at different sites. Mycorrhizal status with different ornamental plants Mycorrhizal status of the plants also varied with the different ornamental plant species included in survey. Maximum AM spore population and mycorrhizal association were recorded in tagetes and minimum in poppy in all the sites included in the survey. In the present study, AM fungi displayed little or no host specificity. The presence of mycorrhization in all the seasons indicates that all the plant species included in survey are dependent on AM fungi during entire year but there was a considerable variation in spore population and percent root bits infection. It might be due to the seasonality of mycorrhization that has direct influence of phenology and physiological status of the plant [36,37]. AMF are not host specific although evidence is growing that certain endophytes may form preferential association with certain host plants [38-39]. It has been shown that some plant species can have a much higher response to AMF, while others are less responsive [40-43] and their role as drivers of plant diversity and productivity may be determined by the mycorrhizal dependency of the species within the community. AMF community composition may be a result of a variety of factors that modify soil and rhizospheric environments, including root exudates, plant host morphology, and investment of plant C to particular fungi in roots. Factors include quality and quantity of root exudates and characteristics of the root surface affecting the number of infection sites and susceptibility of the roots to endophyte penetration. These root exudates might be stimulatory or inhibitory in nature for AMF association with plants. These all factors might be responsible for differential mycorrhizal status of different ornamental plants. Diversity Study of Shannon Wiener Diversity index showed less variation in all the sites indicating a stable and diverse AM fungal community [44]. Variation in spore number and species recorded in the rhizospheric soil and in roots suggest that interspecific competition between them is possible [45-46] or environmental factors influence spore production in natural communities [26,46]. Acaulospora bireticulata has been found abundantly in all the sites while frequency and density of Acaulospora delicata is very high. The possible reason for Acaulospora species density, abundance and frequency are often associated with its wider niche, strongest competitor amongst all and no host preference. No significant difference were found in species evenness and species richness among all the sites. High value of species richness and species evenness showed high diversity and ecosystem productivity. CONCLUSION The present study concluded the occurrence of AM colonization in all the studied ornamental plants, but the dependency varies with different plants and as well as with different sites. Widespread occurrence of Acaulospora and Glomusspeciesin the soil proved that it can be favoured for the mass multiplication and use as a microbial inoculants for the better growth of ornamental plants. In order to more clearly elucidate the mycorrhizal dependency patterns of host plants, more research should be done with reference to

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