Journal of Biology and Nature

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are vital symbionts enhancing nutrient cycling and plant resilience in tropical forest ecosystems. This study systematically assessed AMF spore diversity and spatiotemporal dynamics across 30 transects in Harbul Forest. The forest, dominated by Shorea robusta and Diospyros melanoxylon, provides a stable environment for AMF associations. Rhizospheric soil samples were collected from 30 transects during the monsoon seasons of 2022 and 2023. morphological identification of rhizospheric soil samples, revealing five AMF morphotypes: Glomus macrocarpum (most ubiquitous, 39% frequency across 12 transects: T2, T4, T5, T6, T10, T13, T16, T18, T19, T21, T24, T26, T29), Funneliformis constricta (45% frequency, 14 transects: T2, T3, T8, T9, T10, T12, T14, T15, T16, T17, T18, T20, T25, T26, T27, T28), Glomus spp., G. geosporum, and unidentified cryptic forms potentially representing novel taxa. Transect-wise distribution analysis identified significant temporal restructuring between rainy seasons 2022 (4 morphotypes, 100% occupancy) and 2023 (5 morphotypes, 87% occupancy with 26/30 transects), confirmed by diversity indices showing increased community heterogeneity: species richness rose from 4 to 5, Shannon diversity index improved from H' = 1.37 to 1.52 (+11%), Simpson index from 1-D = 0.69 to 0.74 (+7%). These findings reflecting seasonal spore bank dynamics responding to Forest's environmental variability including leaf litter decomposition and understory of the study area. These spatiotemporal shifts toward balanced community structure underscore AMF spores adaptive strategies with implications for forestry restoration, biocontrol applications, and conservation of microbial diversity in Indian deciduous forests.