Effect of the natural availability of phosphorus on the mycorrhizal association in macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata)

Abstract

The macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) is widely distributed in the cerrado region and establishes
association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that improves nutrient uptake and soil quality.
Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the natural availability of
phosphorus in soils of different origin materials on mycorrhizal colonization of macaúba roots
and the spore density of AMF. The soil was collected in eight areas, four of them in soils of pelitic
rocks and four in soils of tuffites. A higher mycorrhizal colonization was verified in the soils of
lower fertility originated from pelitics in relation to the tuffite soils. Likewise, a larger number of
spores were also observed in pelitic soils. It is concluded that there is a greater recruitment of
mycorrhizal fungi in soils with low natural availability of phosphorus, in order to better exploit the
soil.