Characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associated with vineyards in northwestern Iran

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish beneficial symbiotic associations with plants, enhancing their nutrient uptake, growth, and stress tolerance. The present study was aimed to investigate AMF spore density, species composition, mycorrhizal colonization patterns, and correlation of these indices with soil physicochemical parameters at four vineyards located in one of the most important grape-producing regions of Iran (West Azerbaijan province). Forty-three soil samples were collected from four grape-producing regions during July-August 2019. The total spore abundance ranged from 39–647 spores per 100 g dry soil. Twelve AMF species, representing six genera (Rhizophagus, Funneliformis, Glomus, Septoglomus, Claroideoglomus, and Scutellospora) were identified. Rhizophagus fasciculatus was the most frequently found species, with a frequency of 75%. Two of the identified species, G. glomerulatum and Scutellospora calospora are new for the mycoflora of Iran. Significant negative correlations were detected between AMF attributes [spore density, AMF colonization frequency (F%) as well as AMF colonization intensity (M%)] and soil phosphorus content. The results provide insights into the AMF communities and dynamics in vineyards as influenced by soil parameters, improving our understanding of soil biological fertility in grape production systems.