Seasonal variation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in eroded soils from southern Spain

1432-1890

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae ; Seasonal variation ; Eroded soils ; Spain

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract A survey was carried out of the seasonal variations in the number of spores in the soil and of the percentage of root infection. The stage of development of the host plants, environmental variations and physicochemical characteristics of the soil were taken into account. Fifteen plants valid as forage and adaptable to semi-arid conditions and poor soils were selected. In general, the maximum spore density was reached in the fruit-bearing period of the plants. It remained high during autumn, fell to a minimum in winter and tended to increase in spring. Root infection was at a maximum when the plants flowered, after which it decreased to a minimum in summer.

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