Mycorrhizal Colonization Status and Rhizosphere Soil Properties of BCSIR Reserve Forest Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Abstract

The present investigation has been conducted to assess the AMF (Arbusculr Mycorrhiza Fungi) colonization status along with rhizosphere soil properties of dominant plants and grass species in Rajshahi BCSIR forest of Bangladesh. Roots of six dominant plants (Psidium guajava, Swietenia mahagoni, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Manihot esculenta, Acalypha indica, Fragaria ananassa) and two grass species (Digitaria sanguinalis, Cynodon dactylon) were collected and rhizosphere soil samples were collected from rhizosphere zone. Mycorrhizal colonization percentages and edaphic factors (Soil pH, EC, N, P, Moisture and Soil Temperature) were documented. Highest colonization was obtained in Manihot esculenta (85±5%) followed by Swietenia mahagoni (78±10.36%) and lowest was observed in Acalypha indica (2±1.9%). Mycorrhizal structure as arbuscles, vesicles were present in Psidium guajava, Swietenia mahagoni, Manihot esculenta among the studied species. Research findings indicate that plants species of Rajshahi BCSIR forest is mycorrhizal but not well established as well as mycorrhizal infection is irregularly correlated with edaphic factors.