Identificación morfológica de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en plantaciones de cacao en la región Amazonas, Perú

Cacao (Theobroma cacaoL.) is native to the Amazon and is frequently associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This association influences nutrient uptake and tolerance to host water stress. However, AMF of cacao hasbeen little studied in Peru.This study aims to identify morphologically the natural diversity of AMF in native cacao plantations in the Amazon region, Peru. Forty-four rhizospheric soil samples were collected in the provinces of Bagua and Utcubamba, the main native fine aroma cacao producing provinces of Peru. We isolated fifty-seven AMF spore morphotypes in terms of size, color and shape. These spores were identified to genus level: Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Scutellospora, Sclerocystis, Diversisporaand Rhizoglomus. Glomusand Acaulosporawere the most abundant and frequently isolated AMF. The great diversity of AMF found in Bagua and Utcubamba opens a door for further studies of this important group of fungi in cocoa cultivation.