Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Fields of the East of Algeria

Abstract

In Algeria, in the semi-arid and arid areas cereal production is limited because of many constraints like lack of mineral elements (phosphorus and nitrogen), low organic matter and an insufficient water reserve due to the low rainfall. Most researches on durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) are undertaken to increase its productivity. In recent years several methods have been used including using microorganisms. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) appear to have important roles in plants in various soil conditions. In Algeria and particularly in the eastern regions, the diversity of AMF spores in the soil is so far little studied. In this context this study focuses on the study of the diversity and the abundance of AMF spores in Triticum durum Desf. fields in arid, semi-arid and coastal regions. Soil samples were collected and characterized and the spores isolated by the wet sieving methods were observed, counted and identified. The results of the physic-chemical characterization of all soil samples reveal a clay loam, loam clay and loam sandy soils with an alkaline pH (7.54-8.27), a total nitrogen content from 0.023 to 0.082% and phosphorus content ranging from 1.63% to 7.74%. We noted the presence of several morphotypes that were classified as follow: Glomeraceae, Acaulosporaceae and Scutellosporaceae with a predominance of Glomeraceae in different sites depending on climate and soil type. The presence of these families demonstrates a biodiversity of the eastern wheat fields of Algeria.