Occurrence of Gigasporomycota Spores and some Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Species in Iron Mines Fields in Chhattisgarh

Fungi within the phylum Gigasporomycota were investigated in iron mines fields in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh is located between 21.27°N 81.60°E. The fungi within this phylum form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with plant ischolar_mains. Sampling of soil was carried out to a depth of 30 cm in the rhizosphere. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were found at all 10 sampling sites in each field, at densities in between 0 to 03 spores per g dry weight of soil. Significant differences in spore densities were found between unmined, mined and dumped area of iron mines fields. Our study revealed that the upper half (0-15 cm) of the soil profiles had significantly more spores than the lower half (15-30 cm). Spores from ten sampling sites were identified from the indigenous soils. Almost 90% were shown to belong to the genus Gigaspora. The other genera found were Glomus and Sclerocystis.