Distribution and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Four Coalmine Soils of Telangana State, India

Author(s): Sheak Rehana Begum, Nagaraju Mulka, A. Bhagya and M. Surekha

Abstract: Coal mine sites are highly disturbed due to unearthing and dumping of underground soil. Both physicochemical and biological properties of soils are highly disturbed. Native mycorrhizal population, beneficial for plant establishment and growth, is depleted. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to assess the status of arbuscular mycorrhizae in terms of occurrence and diversity in four coal mine disturbed sites of Telangana state. Thirty plant species commonly growing in all the four sites were selected and the mycorrhizal infection percentage, nature of infection was determined. Mycorrhizal infection percentage varied with the coal mine site and plant species. Distribution, diversity and abundance of AM fungal species varied with the coalmine location. Glomus species were frequently observed in all the four locations followed by Acaulospora and least Entrophospora. Species wise distribution also varied with the test location. No single species was recorded from all the four locations. Among four different locations, Yellandu JK-5 OCP was found to contain a greater number of AM fungal species. We conclude that even in depleted state, native AMF species can be exploited for revegetation of these disturbed locations because they are well adopted to the local edaphic conditions.

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