Abstract

The family Chenopodiaceae is represented in arid plant communities worldwide. Chenopodiaceae have been usually defined as non-mycorrhizal; however, recently some species of the genus Atriplex in North America have been shown to be mycorrhizal. We determined the vesiculo arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) status of nine species of Atriplex spp., including nine populations of A. repanda, three of A. atacamensis, two of A. mudariagae and A. mucronata, and one of A. podocarpa, A. coquimbensis, A. deserticola and A. microphylla, and two plantations of the exotic species A. nummularia in the Chilean Pacific coastal desert. Localities and species showed large differences in number of VAM spores and percentage of VAM infection. Number of VAM spores and percentage of VAM infection were positively correlated with available nitrogen in the soil. Percentage of VAM infection was also negatively correlated with soil salinity. Considering all populations, we found in the field on the average 32% infection and 45 VAM spores/100 g soil. Although the infection percentage was low, this may allow land managers to select VAM strains to inoculate Atriplex plants used to reclaim disturbed Chilean aridlands.