Communities of Arbuscular mycorrhize Fungi (HFMA) associated wild plants of Agraz (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) in the Colombian Andes

Title : Communities of Arbuscular mycorrhize Fungi (HFMA) associated wild plants of Agraz (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) in the Colombian Andes

Abstract:

The tropical Andes of Colombia and Ecuador are recognized for their high biodiversity, this region is native to the agraz (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz). This plant grows in acidic soils and it has an incipient radical system that favors its association with HFMA in symbiosis to adapt to stress conditions. The purpose of this research was to characterize the diversity of AMF communities associated with wild agraz plants. The methodology consisted of: 1) identifying the present morphospecies of HFMA, 2) comparing their communities through diversity indices, 3) determining the chemical properties of the soil, and 4) their relationship with species richness. In the results, 752 AMF spores were identified in 10 g of soil from 26 samples, with 18 morphospecies represented in 7 families and 18 genera. Four predominant morphospecies were characterized: Glomus microcarpum (IF = 50.0%, RD = 43.5%), Rhizoglomus fasciculatum (IF = 20.8%, RD = 13.9%), Glomus australe (IF = 4.2%, RD = 13.2%) and Glomus atrouva (IF = 4.2%, RD = 5.5%). The highest values in the diversity indices were found in San Miguel de Sema, with Shannon and Simpson indices (1.94 and 0.77, respectively), while in the municipality of Chinquinquirá the highest uniformity values of Pileou were obtained, with a value of 0.99.

Biography:

Dr. Gabriel Roveda Hoyos from the National University of Colombia, with a master's degree from the University of Wales, United Kingdom and a specialist in remote sensing applied to natural resources. Researcher and professor with 30 years of experience (CORPOICA) in the areas of agriculture, ecophysiology and microbiology and soils, with an emphasis on aspects of natural resource conservation, sustainable production and food security. I participated in the design of research, development and technological innovation proposals for Latin America, in research groups of entities such as: CORPOICA, FEDESARROLLO, public and private universities, in the integration of innovation processes with government agencies and production companies. I have worked in networks, institutional nationally and internationally with agencies such as MinColciencias, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, World Bank, European Union (INCO I and II program), Procitrópicos and design of collaborative projects between countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Guyana and Colombia. He has been a member of the International Commission on Science and Technology for Integrated Land Management, UN, Geneva and Montreux, Switzerland. I participated in forums, workshops, general policy debates and joint actions for sustainability strategies in Latin America. Co-author of publication in books / reports with around 70 scientific publications.