Arbuscular mycorrhiza and fungal root endophytes of weeds in an altitudinal gradient in the Pamir Alai Mountains of Central Asia

<p>Arbuscular mycorrhiza and fungal root endophytes of three weeds, <i>Galium tricornutum</i>, <i>Lycopsis orientalis</i> and <i>Scandix pecten-veneris</i>, were studied in an altitudinal gradient of the Pamir Alai Mountains. Colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was found in all species. Only in the case of <i>G. tricornutum</i> was there a rise in mycorrhizal parameters values found for the medium altitude range. Similar tendencies were observed in the case of the AMF colonisation potential assessment. This suggests that plant species' identity, dependency on symbiosis and interactions with soil properties determine root colonisation and the abundance of AMF in soils at the elevations in question. Four AMF species, <i>Claroideoglomus claroideum</i>, <i>Funneliformis mosseae</i>, <i>Scutellospora dipurpurescens</i> and <i>Septoglomus constrictum</i>, were isolated from trap cultures established on soil taken from under the weeds. Dark septate endophytes (DSE) accompanied the AMF in the roots of <i>G. tricornutum</i> and <i>S. pecten-veneris</i>; however, they were neither frequently occurring nor abundant. The sporangia of <i>Olpidium</i> spp. were observed with low frequency occurrence in <i>G. tricornutum</i> and <i>S. pecten-veneris</i> and more often in the roots of <i>L</i>. <i>orientalis</i>. However, in both cases, they were low in abundance. No differences were found for the presence of DSE and <i>Olpidium</i> in the altitudinal gradient.</p