Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a significant role in the adaptation of plants to semi-arid environments. However, no information exists regarding the diversity of AM fungi in indigenous legumes of South Africa. Hence, for the first time, this study identified the AM fungal communities in the roots, topsoils, and rhizosphere soils of selected leguminous species from the Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa, using morphological and molecular approaches. In addition, the influence of soil conditions on the diversity and community composition of AM fungi associated with the roots, topsoils, and rhizosphere soils was investigated. The colonisation of roots by AM fungi was assessed by staining and microscopic observation. Morphological diversity of AM fungal communities in topsoils was examined by spore-based identification, while the molecular diversity of AM fungal communities in roots and rhizosphere soils were explored by Illumina Miseq sequencing of the partial small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene...
Ph.D. (Botany)