The abundance and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were evaluated in Tabriz Plain having soil salinity levels ranging from 1.6-162 dS/m. Soil and root samples were collected from rhizosphere of some glycophytes (Allium cepa L., Medicage sativa L., Triticum aestivum L. and Hordium vulgar L.O as well as halophytes (Salicornia sp. and Salsola sp.) and were analysed for spore number in soil, root colonization with AMf and certain physical and chemical properties of soi1. The number of AMF spores was not signifcantly correlated with soil salinity but accumulation of some anions and cations had adverse effects on the number of spores. Cluster analysis of correlation coefficcnt matrice indicated that: the percentage of root colonization, soil, pH, sand and clay percent, and soil available P, rather than
soil salinity and ions concentration. were closley related with spore number. The percentage of root colonization in glycophytes significantly decreased with increasing soil salinity, however, barley and alfalfa roots showed 5-10% mycorrhiazal colonization in high soil salinity (40 dS/m). It may be concluded that the glycophytes could benifit from AMF even in saline conditions.
Halophyte roots were not mycorrhizal but surprisingly. a higher number of viable spores were found in their rhizosphere than nonrhizosphere soil ( 100 and 55 spores per 109 dw. Soil at about 120 dS/m, respectively). Thus halophytes have a positive effect on spore number and survival under severs salinity stresses.
)