Plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi are able to uptake more nutrients, especially phosphorus, than those without colonization due to the increase in the uptake área. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate and the intensity of mycorrhizal colonization in Paspalum notatum roots and their correlation with P uptake. The data were obtained from three different experiment carried out in a greenhouse at Federal University of Santa Maria (Brazil), from 1989 to 1992. The treatments consisted of rates of P, pH levels and different treatment of inoculation (with and without fumigation, and fumigation plus indigenous MA fungi). It was used the number of internal hyphae and arbuscules, in a range of 1 to 5, to characterize the intensity of mycorrhizal colonization. Its was observed the greatest uptake of P and high colonization of the cortex under conditions of high soil acidity and low P availability. In all experiment and treatment the intensity of colonization was efficient to predict P uptake.
arbuscular mycorrhizal; phophorus; colonization; intensity
