Molecular and Morphological Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Pistachio Roots in Kerman Province

Yazdanpanah, Marzieh; Sedaghati, Ebrahim; Khodygan, Pezhman; Alaei, Hossein; Nadi, Marieh

Molecular and Morphological Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Pistachio Roots in Kerman Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Marzieh Yazdanpanah

Ebrahim Sedaghati

Pezhman Khodygan

Hossein Alaei

Marieh Nadi

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) promote plant growth and enhance resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to study morphological and molecular identification of AMF, samples of rhizosphere soil of pistachio orchards in Kerman province were collected during 2013-2014. AMF spores were extracted from the soil samples using wet sieving and were assorted based on morphological characteristics such as spore color, shape, surface ornamentation, spore contents and wall structures. DNA was extracted from a single spore. Partial 18S rDNA was amplified by nested PCR method using universal primer NS4 and AML1 in the first amplification and AML1/AML2 in the second amplification. Based on the morphological and molecular criteria, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus claroideum and Rhizophagus iranicus were identified. R. iranicus is the new record for pistachio mycoflora. Due to the limitations of morphological characteristics for identification and taxonomy of this important group of fungi, molecular methods can apply as complementary tools for the differentiation of morphologically similar species and taxonomic purposes.

Keywords

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Molecular identification

Nested PCR

Pistachio

Symbiosis