The occurrence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) in the rhizosphere soil and roots of wild and cultivated plants were investigated incoastal habitatsin Bahrain. Soils were generally highly saline, with salt crusts on the top layer, low in total soluble salts, slightly alkaline and poor in organic matter. The slide length method was used to quantitatively estimate VAM infection in roots and the wet-sieving and decanting methods were used to isolate VAM spores from the rhizosphere soil. All the recorded isolates in this survey represent one species of Glomus mosseae, which is recorded for the first time from the hot, arid desert environment of Bahrain. The abundance of VAM in soil and roots revealed an irregular distribution pattern and generally vesicular colonization and arbuscular infections were less frequent, when compared to similar desert systems. Spores were also present in low numbers in the cortex of some plants. When compared towild flora, cultivated plants revealed a high VAM infection rate. The results indicate that salinity may have a detrimental effect upon mycorrhizal establishment, distribution and abundance in such habitats.
Mandeel Q., Gul J. (2000): Occurrence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) in coastal habitats of Bahrain. – Czech Mycology 52(1): 69–79.
