Seasonality of mycorrhizal attributes, soil phosphorus and nitrogen of Juniperus phoenicea and Retama monosperma boiss. in an Atlantic sand dunes forest

ABSTRACT

Seasonal variation of mycorrhization attributes in a degraded ecosystem seems to be key information in conceiving rehabilitation programs that use mycorrhized plantations specific to that ecosystem. In order to record seasonality of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in an Atlantic sand dunes forest, root colonization and spores abundance alongside rhizospheric phosphorus and nitrogen of two plant species: Juniperus phoenicea and Retama monosperma, endemic to Essaouira sand dunes forest, were followed through three years. The findings were tested for statistical significance and correlated among each and to some meteorological variables: temperatures, precipitations, and humidity. Results showed that mycorrhization frequencies and intensities and spores densities changed seasonally. They had their peak at late winter-early spring and their low at summer. Phosphorus and nitrogen evolved significantly following seasons. Significant negative correlation was noted between phosphorus and mycorrhizal attributes evolution. Nitrogen correlated positively and significantly though weakly with R. monosperma mycorrhizal attributes. The correlations between mycorrhizal attributes and meteorological variables were not all evident except for temperatures and temperatures-precipitations combination, which had a direct negative impact on mycorrhizal attributes.

KEYWORDS:

• Seasonal variation
• Juniperus phoenicea
• Retama monosperma
• arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• mycorrhization
• spores
• nitrogen
• phosphorus
• temperature
• climate change

Acknowledgments

Meteorological data courtesy of Ms. Khouloud KAHIME, Professor at School of Technology (Ecole Supérieure de Technologie, Essaouira), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco.