Molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Prunus Africana (hook f.) kalkman (Rosaceae) in humid forest zones of Cameroon

Prunus africana is an endangered tree species, endemic to Africa and was included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In this study, we described the composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonized roots and pool of spores of P. africana from three dry Afromountain forests of Cameroon. The large sub-unit (LSU) rRNA gene was amplified from these materials cloned and sequenced using the Glomeromycota specific primers FLR3 situated between the D1 and D2 domains of LSU rRNA and FLR4 in the D2 domain. Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveal that the sequences obtained belong to three families; Gigasporaceae (Gigaspora margarita), Acaulosporaceae (Acaulospora tuberculate, A. longula and Entrophospora colombiana) and Glomeraceae (Glomus manihotis and G. etunicatum). The composition of the AMF communities differed significantly with a slight tendency of specificity between sampled trees and host plants used. Isolation and utilization of the indigenous AMF taxa from the respective sites might be required for a successful enrichment of the plantations of P. africana species.