Distribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi in the Rhizosphere of Dodonaea viscosa L. from a Semi-Arid Region

Abstract

In natural habitats, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential for improving plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. The efficiency of various native fungal species across a variety of host plants in semi-arid climatic circumstances is still insufficiently known, despite having discovered that several studies demonstrate that AMF improves plant drought resistance. In the rhizosphere of Dodonaea viscosa L. in a semi-arid area, this study examined the variety of AMF, spore density, and root colonization. The conventional wet-sieving and decanting procedure was used to isolate AMF spores, and a standard root staining approach was used to measure root colonization. All study locations had consistently low electrical conductivity and low organic carbon content, according to soil physicochemical examination, indicating comparatively homogeneous soil fertility. Despite these circumstances, AMF root colonization was substantial in all studied locations (86.6–93.3%), indicating a robust and well-established mycorrhizal relationship with D. viscosa . Rhizophagus sp. , Funneliformis mosseae , and Acaulospora scrobiculata were the most prevalent AMF species in the rhizosphere. These results show how native AMF populations can adapt to semi-arid settings, proving ecologically significant and indicates their potential for the development of bioinoculants aimed to increase crop resilience and production under water scarcity conditions.