Ecology of Endomycorrhizal Association in Musa spp. of South India

This is the first report of a comprehensive ecological investigation of AMF symbiosis in banana over a very broad zone of its commercial cultivation, South India. The AMF characteristics in relation to specific banana varieties, soils and seasons are carried out. This baseline data has global use for mycorrhizal applications in the crop. Spore density and percentage root colonization in relation to soil fertility parameters, seasons and soil series, along with other ecological parameters are assessed as per standard methods. Altogether 14 different AMF species of 13 different banana varieties, in terms of spore density and percentage colonization from 47 different soil series of South India are discovered. Among the 14 AMF species observed, Dentiscutata nigra is a new report in banana. Shannon's diversity index and Simpson's index over seasons are measured. Evenness in AM fungal population in banana fields in the monsoon was higher than that of summer. Presence of over 30% AMF root colonization in majority of banana varieties revealed its significance in the crop.