Comparison of Soil Characteristics and Diversity of Mycorrhizal Arbuscular Fungi Associated with Cercis griffithii, Boiss In natural and Plantation Sites

This study was conducted to compare soil properties and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with Cercis griffithii in two natural and plantation sites. For this purpose, soil samples were taken from C. griffithii rhizosphere. (0-30 cm) and transported to the laboratory for physiochemical analysis and spore extraction using wet sieving and centrifugation techniques. AMF were identified using morphological features. Furthermore, soil spore density, root length colonization, species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices, and Paulo evenness were considered. Significant differences were observed between soil nitrogen, potassium, CaCO3 and organic carbon, clay contents and bulk densities in two studied sites. In natural site, soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sand were higher but CaCO3 content was lower compare to plantation site. Shannon-Wiener diversity index and root length colonization were significantly different between two studied sites and natural stand had higher values compared to the plantation site. Based on the PCA (Principle component analysis) soil potassium, organic carbon, CaCO3 and soil texture were the most effective factors on stands of C. griffithii.