Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization In Avocado Orchards With Two Different Farm Management Practices

Mexico is the largest avocado producer worldwide. However, this condition has increased the use of agrochemicals and, thus, has reduced the biotic below-ground interactions, such as those between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungi can contribute to the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Therefore, we quantified the infectivity by these fungi in two avocado orchards with different farm nutrient management practices, in the state of Nayarit, Mexico. In agreement with other studies, our results showed that chemical fertilizers had negative effects on the intraradical fungal structures, and the orchard that received agrochemicals had a lower mycorrhizal colonization. The implications that agrochemicals have on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis are discussed.