Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Status of Selected Invasive Alien Plants Species in East Showa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Invasive plant species are alien plant species non indigenous that has adverse effect on the invaded habitat. They are also species that displace native species and have the ability to dominate an ecosystem, or a species that enters an ecosystem beyond its natural range and causes economic or environmental harm. AMF colonization of selected invasive alien plant species was examined in east Showa zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. A field survey was conducted to see the distribution of major invasive alien plants in the different district of East Showa zone. Three replicates of soil and root samples from each plant species were collected during December, 2019 to January, 2020. Physico-chemical analysis of the soil samples, AMF spore extraction and enumeration and AMF root colonization were done. Morphological characterization and identification of AMF spores to species level or morphotype were carried out at Microbiology laboratory, Department of Applied Biology, ASTU. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis were carried out with the SPSS software package. The results showed that spore density of invasive alien plants species varied between plant species. From Argemon orchrroleula 1418spore//100gm of soil to Senna didymobotry 551 spore/100gm of soil. Fungal colonization showed variation among the roots of alien plant species. It ranged from Nicotinia glauca (32%) to Lantana camara which is 15%. Based up on important value only one dominant AMF species were recorded IV (57) across all plant species. However, majority of AMF species were common with recorded IV (43 to 11.25) and few specie were recorded IV from (9 to 1) which is rare. In general in this study, significant variability in AMF spore density, diversity, and percent of root colonization was observed among the invasive alien species.