The genetic diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, recovered from three dune stabilization stages, was evaluated using molecular techniques and compared to results previously obtained by techniques based on morphological spore characterization. The use of the PCR-RFLP technique of spore-extracted rDNA defined the characteristic fingerprint of fungal species in the dunes, identified the presence of different communities at each stage, and detected communities with the highest polymorphism in the intermediate dune. This stage also presented the highest community diversity when morphology-based techniques were used. The combination of both, molecular and morphologically based strategies, provided important information on the diversity of these fungi, thus contributing to the understanding of their role in the ecosystem.
genetic diversity; arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; molecular techniques; dunes