Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with the rhizosphere of tea growing in ‘natural’ and ‘cultivated’ ecosites

The colonization and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with the rhizosphere of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] growing under ‘natural’ as well as ‘cultivated’ conditions in the Kumaun region of Uttaranchal Himalaya (India), during the periods of active growth and dormancy were investigated. Root and rhizosphere soil samples, collected from both the ecosites (natural and cultivated), were monitored for root colonization. While the percent root colonization was quite high (77.66 ± 4.40 and 86.40 ± 3.02%, in the natural and cultivated tea, respectively) during the period of active growth in both the ecosites, relatively higher colonization (97.33 ± 0.78 and 98.13 ± 0.80%, in the natural and cultivated tea, respectively) was recorded during the period of dormancy. The rhizosphere of cultivated tea bushes was found to be dominated by Glomus morhpotypes (88.89% of the total isolates) along with three morphotypes of Acaulospora; occurrence of 35 morphotypes belonging to four genera viz. Acaulospora (11.43%), Gigaspora (11.43%), Glomus (68.57%) and Scutellospora (8.57%) was recorded in the rhizosphere of tea plants from the natural ecosite. A total of 51 AMF morphotypes were detected. Shannon–Weaver index of diversity was higher (1.80 ± 0.13 and 2.05 ± 0.10 during periods of active growth and dormancy, respectively) at the species level for the natural ecosite over its counterparts from the cultivated ecosite. Values for the diversity indices of natural and cultivated ecosites did not show much variation in the period of dormancy. These data suggest that collectively, various cultural practices negatively affect AMF diversity at the genus level in tea plantations of the colder regions.