THE MYCORRHIZAL POTENTIAL OF Hedysarum pallidum Desf. IN THE EAST OF MOROCCO

The present work aims to study the symbiotic association of a wild steppic plant (Hedysarum pallidum Desf.) in the abandoned mining area of Touissit (east of Morocco). A detailed description of the mycorrhizal associations in this specie soil and roots is reported for the first time in this study. Soils and roots samples were extracted from the rhizosphere of H. pallidum. The frequency and intensity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inside the roots were measured and the spores were counted and characterized. Microscopic examination of the roots revealed the presence of typical endomycorrhizal structures. The mycorrhizal frequency was greater than 98%, the mycorrhizal intensity was high (50.9%) and arbuscular intensity reached 34.76%. The spore abundance of AMF isolated from the soil was 1200 spores/100g of soil. These spores presented 3 AMF genera: Glomus, Scutellospora and Septoglomus. The diversity of AMF present in the rhizosphere can be selected and used in improving the production of vigorous plants and to promote the rehabilitation of this degraded mining area.