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Presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in representative species of the tropical dry forest of the Ecuadorian coast

Abstract:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are microorganisms that maintain a symbiotic mutualist relationship with the roots of plants. The tropical dry forest contains abundant species of silvicultural interest, however, the symbiotic relationships of the AMF with the trees that represent the dry forest are unknown. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify the presence of AMF in certain plant species of this ecological niche in Ecuador. Soil and root samples were collected in the wet season between March and April of 2017. The percentages of mycorrhizal found were as follows: Cochlospermun vitifolium (Bototillo) 80.8%, Triplaris cumingiana (Fernan Sanchez) 71.7%, Albizia multiflora (Compono) 70.0%, Tecoma castanifolia (Moyuyo de Montana) 68.6%, Bursera graveolens (Palo Santo) 68.3%, Sapindus saponaria (Jaboncillo) 67.5%, Croton wagneri (Purga) 65.0%, Ceiba trichistandra (Ceibo) 62.2%. All plants sampled had an average density of spores per gram of soil, but Triplaris cumingiana (Fernan Sanchez) obtained higher sporulation despite having the same average.