ICOM1 Abstract

AGWA*, HAMDY & IRIS CHARVAT. Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, 220 Biological Sciences, 1445 Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108-1095. -Species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from a remnant prairie in Minnesota, USA Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is widespread in natural ecosystems. In prairie grasslands, mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in ecosystem maintenance. Plant reliance on mycorrhizae appears to be heavy when inorganic phosphorus levels are low. The objective of this study was to do a survey of the Glomales from a remnant prairie called Crosstown Prairie, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. A small plot is all that remains of the large prairie that once occupied this region. The descriptions and observations reported in this study are from trap cultures as well as single spore cultures using big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii Vitman as the host plant. Big bluestem is native to this prairie. Glomus occultum Walker, G. Intraradices Schenck & Smith, G. Mosseae (Nicolson & Gerdemann) Gerdemann & Trappe, G. Etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, G. Constrictum Trappe, Gigaspora gigantea (Nicolson & Gerdemann) Gerdemann & Trappe, Scutellospora pellucida (Nicolson & Schenck) Walker & Sanders, Entrophospora infrequens (Hall) Ames & Schneider have been identified. *Visiting professor from Tanta University, Faculty of Education, Biology Department, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.