HYDROCARBON POLLUTION - ITS EFFECT ON NATIVE ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI (AMF)

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) present in two hydro carbon polluted soils from Argentina and Germany were analyzed by exam ining stained pieces of plant roots for degree of colonization and fun gal structures. The numbers of AMF infective propagules were also anal yzed and trap cultures were established from rhizospheric soils. Colon ization by AMF was higher in plants grown in non-polluted soils than i n both polluted areas. In addition proportion of arbuscles to vesicles was higher in plants grown in non-polluted soil than in those grown i n hydrocarbon-polluted soils. This was consistent with larger populati ons of AMF propagules with a potential to colonize roots in non-pollut ed soils. Nevertheless, AMF propagules from polluted soils also had a high colonization capacity. Glomus aggregatum and G. mosseae were isol ated and identified from both polluted and non-polluted soils.