Vescular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Diversity and Morphotypes, from Different Land Use of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Research on Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) fungi in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, reveals distinct differences in VAM diversity and morphotypes across various land use types. The study identified four dominant genera—Scutellospora, Glomus, Acaulospora, and Gigaspora—with Scutellospora being the most abundant, followed by Glomus and Acaulospora, while Gigaspora was the least prevalent. These variations were linked to soil parameters like pH, which ranged from 5.59 to 7.49 across different land use types. Notably, two main VAM morphotypes were observed: Arum-type (57%) and Paris-type (40%), with a small proportion of undifferentiated morphotypes (3%). The Arum-type was dominant in fast-growing woodland vegetation, suggesting its importance for reforestation efforts, whereas the Paris-type was more suited to slow-growing plants in grasslands. This study highlights the ecological significance of VAM fungi in savannah ecosystems and their potential role in vegetation dynamics.

Twahir, S., & Tibuhwa, D. D. (2013). Vescular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Diversity and Morphotypes, from Different Land Use of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Journal of Environment and Ecology, 4(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.5296/jee.v4i1.3078