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The objective of this work was to study the mycorrhizal status of Eryngium maritimum in the mobile
dunes of Mehdia coastal area depending on the depth level reached by the roots. The obtained
results showed that all the roots were mycorrhizal, different fungal structures were observed
(arbuscules, vesicles, hyphae, spores and endophytic). However, the identified mycorrhizal
parameters varied from the surface to the depth reached by the roots. The mycorrhizal frequency
reached 88% by the depth. The highest mycorrhizal intensity (26.4%) was recorded at a depth of
53.05 to 73.05 cm. The highest arbuscular contents (22.72%) and vesicular content (11.80%) were
recorded respectively at depths of 53.05 to 73.05 cm and 33.05 to 53.05 cm. The spores density in
the rhizosphere of E. maritimum varied between 10 to 20 spores / 100 g of soil. Similarly, 19 spore’s
morphotypes were isolated from five different genera: Gigaspora, Acaulospora, Entrophospora,
Scutellospora and Glomus.
Among these morphotypes, ten species of endomycorrhizal fungi were determined: Glomus badium,
Glomus aggregatum, Glomus multiforum, Gigaspora sp., Glomus invermaium, Glomus geosporum,
Glomus glomerulatum, Glomus albidum, Glomus enticatum, Scutellospora verrucosa, Scutellospora
calospora, Scutellospora heterogama, Acaulospora colaussica, Entrophospora infrequens.
Mycorrhization of E.maritimum roots in depth, with development of exchange structures
(arbuscular) probably facilitated the installation of this species, which grows well in the mobile
dunes.
Keywords: Morocco, Mehdia, mobile dunes, Eryngium maritimum, roots, depth, mycorrhizal status.