Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in cultivated plants of Swietenia macrophylla in the Peruvian Amazon

Herrera I.; Rojas K.C.; Gárate M.H.; Guerra H.; Revilla J.M.; Flores Y.; Sieverding E. · Lilloa (2025) · DOI: 10.30550/j.lil/2095

Resumen

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) constitute a microbial resource with potential for sustainable application in agroforestry and ecological restoration. Currently in Peru, the documented diversity of AMF diversity is limited, and no prior reports exist on the native AMF diversity associated with cultivated plants of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla G. King), a vulnerable forest species of interest in reforestation and ecological restoration programs. This study aimed to identify the diversity of AMF morphospecies in cultivated S. macrophylla plants, as well as the number of spores and the percentage of AMF root colonization across five sampling areas located in the departments of Ucayali, San Martín and Huánuco. Fifteen individuals of S. macrophylla G. King were sampled in each sampling area. Thirty-five AMF morphospecies were identified in the study areas, with the highest richness found in the districts of Chazuta and Von Humbolt, within the departments of San Martin and Ucayali, respectively. The most predominant AMF species belonged to the Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae families, with 13 species per family. Ambispora reticulata was found in common for four sampling areas; while 19 morphospecies were exclusive to a single sampling area. The study revealed a higher number of spores in the sampling areas with plants less than one year of age. The average percentage of root colonization by AMF was 42% and did not vary significantly among the sampling locations.