Abstract

A survey of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) diversity and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) tree root colonization in arid areas was undertaken in ten palm groves located along the Ziz valley (Tafilalet, south-west Morocco). The frequency and the mean intensity of root colonization reached 72 and 43% respectively and the spore population varied from 238 to 1840 spores/10g of soil.  The AMF colonization levels of field date palm roots were found to be negatively correlated with soil phosphorus content (r2 = -0,64).  A total of ten AMF species were trapped from the 10 studied sites with a population of 4 to 7 species per sites.  The isolated species included:Glomus mosseae, G. fasciculatum, G. constrictum, G. aggregatum, G. macrocarpum, 3 undescribed species of Acaulospora and two of Scutellospora genera. The latter two species were trapped only at the second trapping cycle.

Keywords: AMF, diversity,  Morocco, palm grove, Phoenix dactylifer,