Effects of direct and conventional planting systems on mycorrhizal activity in wheat grown in the Cerrado.

Abstract

Direct planting systems offer several benefits to the soil and plants, as reflected in soil organisms. The Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as indicators of soil quality. This study focused on the native diversity of mycorrhizae in the region. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate mycorrhizal colonization, spore density, soil glomalin content and species diversity in five wheat genotypes under direct and conventional planting systems. This work was carried out in the experimental area of Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina, DF, Brazil. The rates of mycorrhizal colonization, spore density and easily extractable glomalin were evaluated, and species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were identified in five wheat genotypes under direct and conventional planting. For all the genotypes under conventional planting, there was a decrease in mycorrhizal colonization, the number of spores in the rhizosphere and the amount of easily extractable glomalin. The composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community differed among the wheat genotypes and management systems. The richness of morphospecies of AMF in the direct planting system was similar to that in the conventional system, with twelve species each, but the conventional system reduced root colonization and spore density. The most common species were A. scrobiculata, Si. tortuosum and G. macrocarpum, which were found in all the genotypes in both cultivation systems.