Endomycorrhizal fungi occurring on orphan strip mines in Kentucky

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Abstract
Abandoned strip-mine sites in Kentucky which were mostly naturally revegetated were examined for the presence of endomycorrhizal fungi in the rhizospheres of established trees and other plants. Soil pH ranged from 3.2 to 7.1. Sixty-five percent of root samples examined were found to be mycorrhizal. Eight Glomus, three Gigaspora, and two Acaulospora species were positively identified. Plants sampled had one to eight different mycorrhizal species associated with them. The mean number of species per plant was 3.2. Spore numbers ranged from 0.4 to 53.0 spores per gram soil, with a mean value of 12.3 spores per gram. Strip-mine sites such as these may be a good source of ecologically adapted endomycorrhizal fungi for use in strip-mine reclamation.