Arbuscular mycorrhizae associated to angleton grass (Dichathium aristatum Benth) on livestock farms at the municipality of Tolú, Sucre-Colombia

Objective. The present study was carried out to isolate, identify and determine the colonization rate of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with rhizosphere of Dichanthium aristatum Benth grass, in livestock farms of the municipality of Tolú, department of Sucre. Materials and methods. Soil samples and roots from the different farms were picked up. Of each sample AMF spores were isolated, morphotype separation and identification was done by taxonomic keys. From the collected roots colonization rate were measured and calculated through staining methods. Results. 35 livestock farms were sampled, distributed throughout 7 areas of the municipality. The multifactorial ANOVA between the flux density of spores per 100 g soil and colonization percentage in terms of areas and farm factors showed highly significant differences. The results indicate that 92% of the species found are characteristic of fungi similar to the genus Glomus AMF, 4% to the genus Gigaspora, and the remaining 4% to ParaGlomus. Conclusions. This preliminary study carried out in the Colombian Caribbean shows diversity, population density and the percentage of colonization of HMA Associated to Angleton grass in conditions of seven townships belonging to two agrological areas of the municipality of Tolú, Department of Sucre.