Fungi present in the root zone of Amaranthus hybridus

Abstract

Fungi present in the root zone of Amaranthus hybridus were isolated and identified. The fungi were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus versicolor, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor pusillus, Cladosporium sp.’ Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium oxalicum, Chaetomium sp., Penicillium citrinum and Rhizopus oligosporus.  R. stolonifer, A. niger, A. terreus and P. oxalicum predominated in both the rhizosphere soil and the rhizoplane. Aspergillus versicolor, Alternaria altenata and Aspergillus fumigatus were present in the root zone but were absent from the non-rhizopsphere soil. The experimental soil was sandy loam in texture. Rhizosphere effect was well pronounced and it increased progressively with increase in plant age until the tenth week after sowing and then declined.