VIABILITY OF ARBUSCULAR-MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI PROPAGULES IN COFFEE (Coffea arabica) PLANTATIONS DISTURBED BY EROSION

Abstract

In agroecological research it is important to determine the viability of
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), since these are affected by crop
management. Thus, this information allows us to infer their ability to form
symbiotic associations and the time that AMF colonization lasts. The
present study was aimed at comparing the viability of AMF propagules
in eight coffee agroecosystems with different degrees of soil erosion
(EroC1, EroC2, EroC3, SevEroC1, SevEroC2, SevEroC3, MinEroC and
NoEroC). The highest viable colonization was found in non-eroded
agroecosystems (MinEroC and NoEroC) and the lowest values were
seen in highly eroded agroecosystems (SevEroC1 21%, SevEroC2 30%
and SevEroC3 30%), without showing arbuscular colonization. On
the other hand, the number of viable spores was remarkable in these
agroecosystems (26 in SevEroC1, 24 in SevEroC2 and 247 in SevEroC3).
The highest percentage of viable mycelium was found in non-eroded
agroecosystems (MinEroC 19% and NoEroC 35%), compared to highly
eroded agroecosystems (SevEroC1 2.2%, SevEroC2 4.1% and SevEroC3
6.5%). The results of the study show that soil erosion affects the viability
of AMF propagules in the coffee agroecosystems evaluated.