Assessment of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Diversity in Gmelina arborea Roxb. and Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz

A study was conducted at ICFRE-RFRI, Jorhat, Assam, to investigate the diversity and colonization patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with Gmelina arborea Roxb. and Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz. Four AM fungal genera—Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, and Gigaspora—were identified, with Glomus emerging as the predominant genus. The isolated spores exhibited considerable morphological variation in terms of shape, wall architecture, pigmentation, and hyphal attachment. Root colonization was recorded in G. arborea (48%), whereas no colonization was observed in M. baccifera, potentially attributable to host specificity or elevated soil phosphorus levels. These findings underscore the ecological significance of AM fungi in promoting seedling establishment and growth, and highlight the necessity for further investigation into host-specific AM fungal strains to enhance sustainable forestry and reforestation initiatives.