Morphological pattern of colonization by mycorrhizal fungi and the microbial activity observed in Barbados cherry crops/Padrao morfologico de colonizacao por fungos micorrizicos arbusculares e atividade microbiana em cultivos de acerola

Our objective was to evaluate the morphological pattern of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as well as to study the microbiological activity of the soil on family farms where Barbados cherry was cultivated. Soil and root samples were selected from four areas in the municipality of Maranguape-CE where Barbados cherry was grown, which were named according to the age of plants in the following manner: A1-3, A2-3, andA3-3 (3 years), and A4-2 (2years). After sampling, the arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization, morphological colonization pattern, basal soil respiration (SBR), and density of mycorrhizal spores (DS) were analyzed. The Paris-type morphological pattern was predominant in the root system of Barbados cherry; the affinity of this pattern in the culture was clear Time of installation and management of Barbados cherry orchards in family farming areas promoted reduction in SBR. P levels in the soil may have negatively influenced root colonization and density of mycorrhizal spores. Key words: Malpighia emarginata D.C., family farming, mycorrhizal. Objetivou-se avaliar o padrao morfologico de colonizacao por Fungos Micorrizicos Arbusculares (FMA), bem como a atividade microbiologica do solo sob cultivo da aceroleira em areas de agricultores familiares. Para as coletas de solos e raizes foram selecionadas quatro areas com aceroleira no municipio de Maranguape-CE, essas foram denominadas de acordo com a idade das plantas A1 -3, A2-3 e A3-3 (3 anos) e A4-2 (2 anos). Apos as coletas foi analisado a colonizacao micorrizica arbuscular, o padrao morfologico de colonizacao, a respiracao basal do solo (RBS) e a densidade de esporos micorrizicos (DE). O padrao morfologico do tipo Paris foi predominante no sistema radicular da aceroleira, ficado claro a afinidade desse padrao na cultura. O tempo de instalacao e o manejo do pomar da aceroleira nas areas de agricultura familiar promoveu uma reducao na RBS. Os teores de P no solo podem ter influenciado negativamente a colonizacao radicular e a densidade de esporos de fungos micorrizicos arbusculares. Palavras-chave: Malpighia emarginata D.C., agricultura familiar, micorriza.