Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mangrove Islands of Kerala.
To better understand the diversity and species composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in mangrove ecosystems, we have performed a study in the selected mangrove Islands of Kerala, India.  AM fungal root colonization intensity, soil chemistry analysis, fatty acid profiling, and richness and community composition (based on small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing) are addressed in this study. We also investigated the influence of AMF in mangrove and its surrounding local vegetation growing in the shores of paddy fields from one Island. We observed that AMF root colonization intensity was very poor in mangrove roots. AM fungal biomass in mangrove soils tested for NLFA biomarker showed that AMF biomass in mangroves habitats were mainly influenced by soil chemistry. AM richness and Shannon diversity were influenced by soil chemistry of mangrove soils as well as plant species found in the Islands.  Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Acanthus ilicifolius showed higher AM fungal richness. In the paddy fields, vegetation types and sample origin were the driving factors for AM community richness. AM fungal species from Glomeracea family were abundant in the mangrove habitats. In this study we confirm the abundance and diversity of AM fungi in the mangrove habitats and are influenced by soil chemistry attributes and vegetation type.