The prevalence and population levels of VAM fungi in a range of field soilenvironments in Zimbabwe were determined. The main VAM generaAcaulospora, Scutellospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Sclerocystls andEntrophospora were represented in the study sites. The relativeabundance was Glomus > Acaulospora > Scutellospora > Sclerocystis> Gigaspora > Entrophospora at all sites except at Chabwino (fallowsoil) and Thorn Park (sorghum) where Acaulospora < Scutellospora andSclerocystis > Scutellospora = Acaulospora. Relative proportions of thedifferent VAM genera were similar across soils but population sizesvaried with soil management. There was no clear relationship betweenVAM spore numbers and cropping history although among the cultivatedplots, soils that had legumes as the previous or current crop generallyhad higher VAM populations than under sorghum. Of the soil parametersmeasured, only percent organic carbon was significantly correlatedwith VAM numbers and infective propagules.
Publication year
1999
Authors
Mukonese F T; Mpepereki S; Mafongoya P L
Language
English
Keywords
crops, spores, mycorrhizae
Geographic
Zimbabwe
