Evidence of Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Arid and Semi-arid Steppe Plants

Background: The soils of arid regions, especially steppe areas, are generally poor. Despite these challenging conditions, steppe plants manage to establish and adapt. The mycorrhizal symbiotic association has a crucial role in the nutrition and stress resistance of these plants. The present research aims to identify mycorrhizal fungi in three perennial plants native to the Algerian steppe: Aristida pungens, Retama raetam and Astragalus armatus. Methods: We took soil samples under and outside vegetation, along with corresponding roots for each plant tested and covering an air of 206 km. Result: The results varied among the three species: the rhizospheric soil under A. Pungenshad a moisture content of 5.28%, an organic matter content of 1.38%, a glomalin level of 2.83 mg/g of soil and the number of spores of 461.66 spores per 100 g of soil. In addition, soil under R. raetam gave more information on pH (8.13) and an EC of 0.12 ms/cm. and for A. armatus, its abundance was linked to a CaCO3 level of 9.79%. We recorded a positive correlation of glomalin with spore count and soil moisture. All three plants studied exhibited a high rate of mycorrhization exceeding 70%, with A. Armatushaving the highest averages