Agrosystems and Mycorrhizae of Plantain (Musa AAB subgroup) in the Forest Region of Kisangani in DR Congo: Abundance and Diversity

Abstract

Although DR Congo is the global centre of plantain diversity (Musa, AAB subgroup), the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with plantain have not yet been studied in the forest region of Kisangani. This study assessed the abundance and the diversity of AMF in plantain cultivated in different agrosystems. The study addressed also the relation between AMF diversity and plantain vigour as well as the impact of soil characteristics on AMF population. Soil samples were collected from 24 plantain fields from secondary forest, fallow and homegardens. Plantains from fallow exhibited the highest mycorrhizal root colonization followed by those from forest and homegardens. But, the rhizosphere of plantains in forest had a higher amount of AMF spores than those located in fallow and in homegarden. The mycorrhizal root colonization and the AMF spore number were higher in vigorously growing plantain plants than in non-vigorously growing plantain plants. Gigasporaceae (20.4 %) has a positive correlation with plantain fields in forest and in homegardens with a strong link to organic matter, organic carbon, phosphorus and sand content. Glomeraceae (77.5%) was related to plantain fields located in fallow and in forest where the level of silt, nitrogen and hydraulic conductivity was high. Acaulosporaceae (2.1%) did not show any particular correlation with any soil parameters. This study shows that plantain located in forest and fallow agrosystems, and plantain growing vigorously harbour most mycorrhizae in the forest region of Kisangani .

Keywords: Agrosystem, AMF, Kisangani, plantain