Diversity and species composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Clerodendrum species

Two Clerodendrum species viz., Clerodendrum colebrookianum and Clerodendrum buchananii were studied for diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A rhizosphere soil was found to be acidic and soil phosphorus was low for both the plant species. AMF colonization in the form of arbuscules, vesicles and hyphae were observed. Hyphal colonization was high compared to vesicles and arbuscules. The percent of AMF colonization in C. colebrookianum was 29.77 %, whereas in C. buchananii it was 25.83 %. However, AMF colonization in trap culture from C. buchananii derived inoculum source was found to be higher (18.07 %) as compared to C. colebrookianum (16.31 %). On the basis of morphological characteristics, a total of 20 AMF species belonging to two genera viz., Acaulospora and Glomus were isolated from the two studied plant species, whereas from trap culture, 14 AMF species were isolated. This study gives the gist of AMF status of two Clerodendrum species and it revealed that the AMF composition and diversity varies in the two Clerodendrum species.