Abstract:
The symbiosis between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and mangrove plant
species was investigated in five mangrove swamps in Sri Lanka. Soil samples were collected
from rhizosphere areas of dominant mangrove plants in Sarasalai area in Jaffna, Kakkapalliya
in Pambala, Negambo lagoon, Trincomalee, and Manmunai Batticaloa, from a depth of 0-20 cm
on from March to September 2018, during low tide period. Collected soil samples were clay loam
in texture. For all five composite samples AMF spores were extracted using wet sieving and
decanting method. Most common mangrove plants species were identified and their
underground growing root tips were extracted to assess the colonization percentage of AMF.
The results were compared using a one-way ANOVA in Minitab 16.0. AMF were mostly found
in the form of hyphae and were commonly associated with most of the mangrove species
investigated. AMF species belonging to Glomus, Gigaspora, Scutellospora and Acaulospora
were identified in all areas. Root colonization was observed in all species. AM fungal root
colonization varied by plant species and site. Lumnitzera racemosa was common to Jaffna and
Pambala and the colonization potential was high in Jaffna compared to that of Pambala, but was
not significant (at p < 0.554). Rhizophora apiculata in Pambala and Negambo was not
significantly different (p<5) so as Avicennia marina in Pambala Batticaloa and Tricomalee.
Furthermore, colonizing AMF species can be identified and recommended for inoculating
mangrove seedlings in deforested areas for better growth and development of sustainable
mangrove ecosystem.
