The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous establishing symbiosis with a large number of plants in spite of soil contamination with heavy metals.This study aimed to evaluate AMF occurrence and diversity in soils of four locations cultivated with grass species and contaminated with heavy metals as a result of Zn extraction and industrialization. AMFs were found in all locations, with species predominance being affected by heavy metal concentration in soil. Twenty one species were identified, belonging to the following genus: Acaulospora (seven species), Scutellospora (six species), Glomus (five species), Gigaspora (two species), Entrophospora (one species).The most frequent species identified were: Glomus occultum, Acaulospora morrowiae, Acaulospora mellea, Glomus intraradiaces, Glomus clarum, and Scutellospora pellucida. Spore density, species richness and increase in species dominance were all inversely related to heavy metal concentration.The AMF populations were dominated by Acaulospora mellea, Glomus clarum, and Glomus occultum.It was concluded that heavy metals exert differential effects on AMF populations, which are affected by the level of heavy metal pollution.
soil pollution; microbial ecology; heavy metals; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; mycorrhizal fungi diversity