SHARMA, SOM DEVRASGOTRA, NIPUN2016-12-262016-12-26201347896http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/92876ABSTRACT The present investigations entitled “Spatial and temporal variation in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in stone fruit orchards of Solan and Sirmour district” were conducted at said districts of Himachal Pradesh. Fourteen AM species were identified and characterized. Glomus spp. were the most ubiquitous. Spore population of G. fasciculatum was highest followed by G. mosseae and G. macrocarpum in all the orchards. Summer season was found most preferable (as root colonization and spore density was higher) for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi proliferation as compared to spring and autumn seasons. Survey of stone fruit orchards for soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi revealed positive correlation of AM spore number and per cent root colonization with growth, fruit yield and nutrient status of leaf and soil except K, where negative correlation was observed in most of the orchards. AM spore number and per cent root colonization were positively correlated with fungal species and relationship with bacterial species was found negative.enThesis