Archaeospora undulata, a new species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for Iran

Soda rosmarinus (Bunge ex Boiss.) Akhani, is one of the characteristic xerohalophytes and a dominant species of Iranian salt marshes. This species with perennial shrub and cylindrical, succulent leaves is widely distributed in the central desert and Dasht-e Kavir, particularly in Semnan Province and due to its well-developed root system, it plays an important role in soil stabilization and the reduction of wind erosion. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with more than ۸۰% of plants, enhancing growth and increasing tolerance to environmental stresses. In this research arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity and root colonized percentage of S. rosmarinus were studied. Results revealed that, despite the low mycorrhizal colonization in the roots of S. rosmarinus, its rhizosphere harbors a diverse fungal flora and seven arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species were identified viz. Archaeospora undulata (Sieverd.) Sieverd., G.A. Silva, B.T. Goto & Oehl, Funneliformis geosporus (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Schüßler, Gigaspora albida N.C. Schenck & G.S. Sm., Glomus ambisporum G.S. Sm. & N.C. Schenck, G. macrocarpum Tul. & C. Tul., Rhizophagus aggregatus (N.C. Schenck & G.S. Sm.) C. Walker, and R. fasciculatus (Thaxt.) C. Walker & A. Schüßler, with A. undulata being reported for the first time from Iran. The results suggest that, native plants with absent or low mycorrhizal colonization in arid saline soils could play a role in promoting soil biodiversity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biodiversity ، saline soils ، Semnan species ، Soda rosmarinus ، xerohalophytic plants