TITLE:
A Survey of Mycorrhizal Colonization in the 50-ha Korup Forest Dynamic Plot in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Eneke Esoeyang Tambe Bechem, George Bindeh Chuyong, Belinda Tengu Fon
KEYWORDS:
Korup Forest Dynamic Plot, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza, Ectomycorrhiza, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.10,
May
6,
2014
ABSTRACT: A study was carried
out in the 50-ha Korup Forest Dynamic Plot in South West Cameroon, to evaluate
the diversity of mycorrhizal associations as well as to determine the effect of
habitat types on the type of mycorrhizal association. A total of 781 individual
trees belonging to 51 families, 165 genera and 252 tree species, were sampled
from the four habitat types found in the plot: low drier, hill slope, ridge top
and wetland complexes. In each habitat type, all stems ≤ 1 cm depth at breast
height had already been tagged, measured, mapped and identified to the species
level. Root samples were collected, cleared, stained and examined
microscopically for mycorrhizal type. Of the total number of species sampled,
248 (98.41%) formed mycorrhizal associations with only 4 (1.59%) being non
mycorrhizal. For mycorrhizal trees, 232 (93.55%) formed exclusively arbuscular
mycorrhiza, 10 (4.03%) formed ectomycorrhiza, while 6 (2.42%) formed both ecto-
and arbuscular mycorrhiza. The ridge top harbored the least number (152) of
mycorrhizal trees while the low drier area harbored the most number (266) of
mycorrhizal trees. Although habitat effect was not significant in influencing
mycorrhizal colonization of tree species, some tree species did show aggregated
patterns in particular habitats.