American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 14 (10): 1080-1088, 2014 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aejaes.2014.14.10.12432 Corresponding Author: Bal Krishan Choudhary, Department of Environmental Science, Women’s College, Agartala - 799001, Tripura, India E-mail: bkmchoudhary@gmail.com. 1080 Vascular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Spore Diversity and Density Across the Soil of Degraded Forest and Rubber Plantation in Tripura, India Uma Sarkar, Bal Krishan Choudhary and Bipin Kumar Sharma 1 2 1 Department of Microbiology, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar - 799022, Tripura, India 1 Department of Environmental Science, Women’s College, Agartala - 799001, Tripura, India 2 Abstract: Mycorrhizal association is the most common symbiotic relationship found in natural as well artificial ecosystem. We analyse two important land use system viz. Degraded Forest (DF) and Rubber Plantation (RP) to study the species composition and diversity of VAM. Our study area, 1880 spores (1380 from DF and 500 from RP) were retrieved from the study sites, representing 27 species. About a third of the AMF species belonged to the genus Acaulospora and a quarter to the genus Glomus. In Total, 25 species were obtained from degraded forest, 17 species from rubber plantation and 14 species were common in both sites. In DF, the percent (%) contribution of total spore density was shared by Genus Acaulospora (13.04%), Gigaspora (20.58%), Glomus (27.54%) and Scutellospora (8.99%). Similarly in RP, the percent distribution was as Acaulospora (12.8%), Gigaspora (13.6%), Glomus (42.4%) and Scutellospora (3.20%). Four important Genera (Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Glomus and Scutellospora) shared about 70.14 % spore in DF than 60.59% in RP. Notwithstanding, spore density in RF was decrease 21.33 % of Acaulospora, 14.30 % of Gigaspora, 33.47 % of Glomus and 77.42 % of Scutellospora compared to DF. There was no significant difference in spore density and number of species diversity under the land use land cover under the study. It may be concluded from our study that forest management practices should aim to increase the diversity of tree species of the secondary forest with the aim also to increase the soil microbiological resources like AMF communities. Key words: VAM Spore diversity Species dominance Relative Importance Value INTRODUCTION assist the plants in their uptake of phosphorus, nitrogen Mycorrhiza is the mutualistic symbiosis (non- the hyphal network of the fungi apart from increased pathogenic association) between soil-borne fungi with the absorptive surface area of the roots [4-7]. The non- roots of higher plants [1]. They are more common in nutritional benefits of VAM association include improved temperate and boreal forest trees and number over water relation, increased resistance to root pathogens; 5000 species mainly within the Basidiomycetes [1]. mineral element toxicity and stable soil structure [8]. Van The endomycorrhizal are characterized by inter-and der Heidjen et al. (1998) have reported that VAM fungus intracellular fungal growth in root cortex, forming specific diversity determines plant community structure and fungal structures, referred to as vesicles and arbuscles overall ecosystem stability and function [9]. Any and this characteristic growth gives the endomycorrhizal disturbance on this relationship may cause changes in the alternate name, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza terms of decreased population status and diversity of (VAM). About 80% of all terrestrial plant species form this these mycorrhizal fungi i.e. forest logging practice and type of symbiosis [2] and 95% of the world’s present disturbance in soil influenced significant changes in species of vascular plants belong to families that are VAM propagules [10]. There have been large reports on characteristically mycorrhizal [3]. VAM are found in a the nature of redistribution and diversity of mycorrhizal wide range of habitats usually in the roots of fungi in the disturbed soil environments. However, angiosperms, gymnosperms and pterydophytes. The little is known about AM fungal diversity in artificial fungus obtain carbon from the host plant and in return ecosystems that are subjected to constant human and other mineral nutrients from deficient sites through