IDENTIFICATION OF ARBUSCULAR FUNGI IN TRANSGENIC MEXICAN LIME (Citrus aurantifolia)

Abstract

Under natural conditions, citrus trees depend on arbuscular mycorrhyzal fungi (AMF) for their growth, development and nutrition; however their effect on transgenic citrus plants is unknown. Likewise, the manner in which the rhizosphere environment in these transgenic plants is affected has not been analyzed, nor their repercussion on diversity. A study was performed regarding the diversity of AMF spores developed in a native soil in the state of Colima, México, where transgenic Citrus aurantifolia trees are planted. It was observed that transgenic plants had a greater diversity of AMF than nontransgenic plants. The predominant fungi in transgenic plants were Racocetra fulgida, Gigaspora margarita, Funneliformis geosporum, G. microaggregatum, Sclerocystis coremioides, Sclerocystis taiwanesis, Sclerocystis clavispora and Sclerocystis sinuosa, while the predominant fungi in non-transgenic were G. microcarpum, Acaulospora sp. and Sclerocystis sinuosa.