Occurrence of Gigasporomycota Spores and Some Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Species in Iron Mines Fields in Chhattisgarh

 

Tanushree Chatterjee, Pradeep Kumar Sahu* and  Shilpi Chatterjee

Raipur Institute of Technology, RITEE, Chatauna, Mandir Hasaud, Raipur C.G. 492101 INDIA

 

 

ABSTRACT:

Fungi within the phylum Gigasporomycota were investigated in iron mines fields in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh is located between 21.27°N 81.60°E. The fungi within this phylum form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis with plant roots. Sampling of soil was carried out to a depth of 30 cm in the rhizosphere. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were found at all 10 sampling sites in each field, at densities in between 0 to 03 spores per g dry weight of soil. Significant differences in spore densities were found between unmined, mined and dumped area of iron mines fields. Our study revealed that the upper half (0-15 cm) of the soil profiles had significantly more spores than the lower half (15-30 cm). Spores from ten sampling sites were identified from the indigenous soils. Almost 90% were shown to belong to the genus Gigaspora. The other genera found were Glomus and Sclerocystis.

 

KEYWORDS: Isolation, Identification, Spore density, soil analysis.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Mycorrhizas are symbiotic associations essential for one or both partners, between   a    fungus (specialized for life in soils and plants) and a root (or other substrate-contacting organ) of a living plant, that is primarily responsible for nutrient transfer. Mycorrhizas occur in a specialized plant organ where intimate contact results from synchronized plant-fungus development.” [1]

 

Mined land sites are generally known to be nutrient poor and contain soils that are in dire need of stabilization to prevent erosion. Marked by the beginning works of J. R. Schramm, mine reclamation practices have included the use of Mycorrhizal inocula to establish successful plant communities on mined sites [2]. Mycorrhizae benefit the vegetation by increasing a plant’s ability to survive in a nutrient poor and water deficient environment in undisturbed ecosystems, mycorrhizal relationships occur naturally. Mined sites, however, are chemically, physically, and biologically altered and often lack the necessary quantity of mycorrhizal fungi to sustain a tolerant plant community [3]. Several types of Mycorrhizal inocula are currently in use and will be examined according to their practicality and economy to site specificity [4].

 

Study and geology of area of Rajhara mines

Rajhara iron mines is situated of lat 20°35’ N a log 81°05’ E to south of Dalli-Rajhara Taluk, Durg. It is located about 83 KM South of Durg and comes under the south eastern section of the Indian Railways (Fig1). The Rajhara mine has been mined systematically for iron over four decades.

 

 


Rajhara mines occur in the semi-arid region in the southern plains of Chhattisgarh. The region is characterized by annual rainfall of 1071.16 mm. The day temperature over most part of the year is around 25-40°C. Dalli Rajhara is the twin mine part of the Rajhara group of mines. These are captive iron ore mines for Bhilai steel plant (BSP) - a SAIL enterprise. Iron ores mined from the area are of the hematite and magnetite variety (Grade 66% Fe), and reserve 165 million tonnes. Other mines in the neighborhood produce dolomite, lime and other raw materials which go into steel production [5, 6].

 

Figure: 1 map of Chhattisgarh state and location of Rajhara mines.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Soil sample collection:  soil samples were collected from the three region of iron ore mines unmined area, mined area and dumped area (topsoil before mining). The sampling location sites were randomized after site facing. The soil sample collected from ten different locations of all three areas. The core method will be used to take samples from 30 cm depth of the selected site soil samples. The all three different region of soils their physical parameter will check like temperature, pH, total dissolve solid, and conductivity (table-1). (Deluxe soil and water analysis kit model 172, company EI).

 

Isolation of VAM: isolation of VAM from soil sample is done by Gerdemann and Nicolson [7] and this is now the most widely used procedure for the study of spores of Endogonaceous fungi in soil (table-2). Identification of VAM: identification of different genera of VA Mycorrhiza is done based on their morphology characterstatics [8].

 



Table 1: Physical characterstatics of soil sample.

Parameters

Unmined zone

Mined zone

Dumped zone

S-01

S-02

S-03

S-01

S-02

S-03

S-01

S-02

S-03

Temperature(oC)

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

30.5

pH

6.54

6.50

6.60

7.25

7.30

7.28

7.45

7.48

7.50

Conductivity (ms/cm)

0.05

0.04

0.05

0.20

0.20

0.19

0.09

0.10

0.09

TDS(ppm)

30

31

34

140

143

140

40

39

39

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

In ten soils sample were collected from three different soil site unmined zone, mined zone and old dumped zone of Rajhara iron ore mines. Soil physical parameter temperature, pH, total dissolve solid, and conductivity tested from randamally three sample of each zone. The result has been presented in table no. 01. The pH of dumped zone soil is high then mined zone soil and unmined zone are less. Soil testing helps us to known the nutritional status of the soil to assess the profitability of applying a particular nutrient. If soil pH is very high there

is no use of adding fertilizer for revegetation. The conductivity (ms/cm) and total dissolve solid (ppm) is more in soil collected from mined zone, compare then soil collected from dumped zone and least the value of unmined zone soil. The excessive conductivity and total dissolve solid can also lower the efficiency of applied fertilizer for revegetation as well as mycorrhiza spore germination.    

 

Figure: 3 (d) Glomus genera of VAM, (e) and (f) Spore of Glomus.

 

Table 2: Soil sample in-between 1-30 cm depth.

Sample no.

Name of genera of VAM

Unmined area no. of VAM spore

Mined area no. of VAM spore

Dumped area no. of VAM spore

01

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

115

25

00

10

00

00

16

00

00

02

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

95

30

00

00

00

00

12

00

00

03

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

225

32

05

00

00

00

00

00

00

04

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

160

27

10

00

00

00

00

00

00

05

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

210

13

08

00

00

00

00

00

00

06

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

178

22

02

00

00

00

00

00

00

07

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

300

24

20

00

00

00

00

00

00

08

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

275

18

17

00

00

00

00

00

00

09

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

119

12

06

00

00

00

00

00

00

10

Gigaspora

Glomus

Sclerocystis

276

18

12

00

00

00

00

00

00

 

Mycorrhizal sporulation with their genera has been presented in table no. 02. Spore population / 100 gm soil was calculated. The spore population ranged from o to 03 spore/gm of soil. Soils of unmined zone are harboured highest sporulation 300 spores followed by 276, 275, 225, 210, 178, 160, 119, 115 and 95 of Gigospora genus of VAM. The Glomus of unmined zone are harboured highest sporulation 32 followed by 30, 27, 25, 24, 22, 18, 18, 13 and 12. The Sclerocystis of unmined zone are harboured highest sporulation 20 and followed by 17, 12, 10, 08, 06, 02 and also absent in two soil sample. Soils of mined area are only in one sample Gigospora occurs and their spore is ten. The Glomus and Sclerocystis are absent in all ten soil sample of mined zone. In soil of dumped zone only two soil samples occurs Gigospora and their highest sporulation sixteen and followed by twelve. The Glomus and Sclerocystis genera of VAM are totally absent in all ten soil sample.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       www.google.com;mycorrhizal association; the web resoururce.

2.       Danielson, R. 1985. Mycorrhizae and reclamation of stressed terrestrial environments. Ch. In soil reclamation processes. Ed. by Tate, R. III. and A. Klein. Marcel Dekker, Inc. pp. 173 – 201.

3.       Norland, M. 1993. Soil factors affecting mycorrhizal use in surface mine reclamation. Bureau of mines information circular. United States Department of the Interior.

4.       Sturges Susan 1997. The Use of Mycorrhizae in Mined Land Reclamation. Restoration and reclamation review, student online journal vol. 2, no. 7, spring 1997.

5.       www.google.com/ Rajhara mines wikipedia.

6.       Department of mineral resources Government of Chhattisgarh.

7.       Gerdemann J W and Nicolson T H. 1963. Spore of mycorrhizal endogone species extracted from the soil by wet sieving and decanting. Transaction British Mycological Society 46:235-244.

8.      [Schenck N C and Perez Y (eds). 1990.Manual for identification of VA Mycorrhizal fungi. Grainesville, USA: INVAM, University of Florida.

 

Received on 07.07.2011

Modified on 22.07.2011

Accepted on 04.08.2011           

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Science and Tech.  3(4): July-August. 2011: 208-211