Screening mycorrhiza species for plant growth,P and Zn uptake in pepper seedling grown under greenhouse conditions

We screened the mycorrhizal species for an inoculum protocol would green pepper seedling production and compensate for nutrient deficiency. Three greenhouse studies (on three successive years) were conducted under nursery conditions using five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their mixture. The AM fungi, Glomus mosseae, G. clarum, G. caledonium, G. intraradices and G. etunicatum propagated on maize roots were used. The AM fungi were inoculated to seed stages and half of the seed stages inoculated plants were re-inoculated at the seedling stages. In Experiment I, plants were harvested once and in Experiments II and III, plants were harvested twice at different developmental stages.     

The response of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) plants to early inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi at different levels of phosphorus

Summary

Chilli plants cv. Pusa Jwala were inoculated in the nursery beds with three mycorrhizal fungi, Gigaspora calospora, G. margarita and Glomus fasciculatum and transplanted to plots supplied with 0, 25 and 50% of a recommended P level (65 kg ha^?1). Uninoculated plants were also transplanted at 0 (Control) and 100% of.the recommended P level. Plant growth, height, shoot dry weight, uptake of P, root colonization and yield of green chillies were measured. Chilli responded well to inoculation and P. G. margarita best improved growth and yield. Inoculation plus 25 and 50% P were equally better than the control and equal to uninoculated plants at 100% P. As much as 50–75% P can be dispensed with by inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and this represents a considerable economic saving in cost.     

Changes in free amino acid concentrations in mycorrhizal strawberry plants

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization on free amino acid concentrations in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch., cv.Nohime) plants was investigated using two AMF species [Glomus mosseae (Gm), Gl. aggregatum (Ga)] under phosphorus-supplemented (+P) or non-supplemented (−P) conditions. Ten weeks after AMF inoculation, mycorrhizal plants showed higher values in dry weight of both shoots and roots than did non-mycorrhizal ones among most of the treatments. Shoots and roots of mycorrhizal plants had greater phosphorus concentrations in −P plots, while in +P plots, P concentrations differed little among the inoculation treatments. AMF colonization was greater in plants inoculated with Gm than in plants inoculated with Ga. Total amino acid concentration was higher in most of the plants inoculated with Gm than in non-mycorrhizal ones regardless of P treatment. Serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, leucine and GABA were higher in both mycorrhizal plants in −P plots than in non-inoculated plants. In +P plots, threonine and isoleucine concentrations were greater in both mycorrhizal plants than in non-inoculated ones. Asparagine, glutamic acid, glycine, citrulline, GABA and arginine were greater in plants inoculated with Gm than in non-mycorrhizal ones. These findings verified that inoculation with AMF increases total amino acid concentrations and concentrations of specific amino acids in strawberry plants with or without phosphorus supplementation, though the effects varied with species of mycorrhizal fungus.     

接种AM真菌对不同育苗基质中甜椒苗期生长的影响

研究比较普通土、秸秆有机土和草碳蛭石3种育苗基质中接种两种丛枝菌根真菌GM、GV对甜椒苗期生长的影响，结果表明：在营养含量较高的有机土育苗基质中，接种AM真菌对甜椒苗的影响最弱，而在营养水平较低的草碳蛭石无土育苗基质中，接种AM真菌对甜椒苗有显著的促进作用，其中AM真菌在草炭蛭石中对甜椒苗根系的侵染率也最高，而GM的接种效果优于GV。     

摩西球囊霉对芦笋幼苗生长和矿质营养吸收的影响

摩西球囊霉（Glomus mosseae,GM）是球囊霉属丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi,AMF）,具有对环境适应力强、应用范围广的特点。为探明摩西球囊霉对芦笋育苗的应用效果,采用营养钵育苗播种对芦笋进行GM接种处理,研究GM对芦笋幼苗生长、菌根侵染及矿质营养吸收的影响。结果表明：接种GM后芦笋幼苗生物量显著提高,植株根系具有较高的菌根依赖性。GM对芦笋幼苗根系的侵染呈现“S”形变化趋势,播种10周后,GM对芦笋幼苗根系达到较高程度的侵染,且GM菌根苗的根系活力和叶绿素含量与不接种对照相比显著提高。接种GM显著促进了植株对矿质元素特别是P的吸收,其次为Mg。接种GM培育菌根苗的技术应用于芦笋栽培可以培育壮苗,缩短苗期,节省肥料,提高养分利用率。     

不同株系枳实生苗的菌根依赖性研究

用11个株系枳实生苗在无土基质条件下接种VA菌根真菌Glomus citrocolum,以不接种菌根为对照。培养6个月后的结果表明,不同株系枳的菌根依赖性以枳74-1和飞龙枳为最高,以厚皮枳和莒南枳为最低。其菌根依赖性与株高、枝梢干重呈显著负相关,与根/梢比值和枝梢磷含量有一定相关性,但不明显。矮化枳类型的菌根依赖性具有较乔化枳类型更大的倾向,因而,枳的矮化性状也许可以作为估计不同株系枳菌根依赖性的依据。     

两种丛枝菌根菌剂对温室番茄穴盘幼苗生长的影响

在温室穴盘栽培条件下,对番茄幼苗接种2种商品用丛枝菌根菌剂BF(mycorrhizaforplants)和VT(mycorrhizaforvegetables),测定幼苗生长发育及光合生理等指标。结果表明:VT和BF均能不同程度地侵染番茄根系,接种35d后侵染率分别为78.3%、66.4%。接种AMF后幼苗的株高、茎粗、干质量、鲜质量、根系活力、叶绿素含量、净光合速率均大于未接菌对照,且接种VT菌剂的幼苗与未接菌对照相比差异显著。综合分析表明,VT对番茄穴盘幼苗的促生效果较好。     

Aptitude for mycorrhizal root colonization in Prunus rootstocks

Eighteen Prunus rootstock cultivars were inoculated with three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under greenhouse conditions in order to evaluate their affinity for mycorrhizal colonization. The rootstocks were peach–almond hybrids, peaches, plums and cherries of Spanish, French and Italian origin. Mycorrhizal colonization was low in plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerdemann and Trappe, and Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann. In contrast, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith, proved to be the most infective endophyte, achieving the highest mycorrhizal colonization rate in most of the rootstocks evaluated. Species of Prunus insititia L. were the only botanical group to show a consistently high affinity for mycorrhizal colonization with G. intraradices.     

Changes in root morphology accompanying mycorrhizal alleviation of phosphorus deficiency in micropropagated Annona cherimola Mill. plants

The effect of the mycorrhizal inoculation on survival rate, growth, nutrient uptake and root morphology during the acclimatization period and plant establishment of micropropagated juvenile or adult cherimoya plants (Annona cherimola Mill.) was determined. Although mycorrhizal colonization did not improve the survival rate of plants, which was already high in non-inoculated plants, it had a positive effect on plant development (shoot length, leaf number, leaf area and fresh and dry weights). Mycorrhizal juvenile plants tripled the macronutrients and increased by four the micronutrient uptake, and mycorrhizal adult plants increased by two phosphorus and all micronutrients, with copper uptake increased five times. Moreover, mycorrhizal colonization changed the root morphology of adult plants increasing three-fold the total number of roots, doubling the number of first-order laterals and increasing second-order laterals by four. Total root length was also increased three-fold, adventitious root length was almost doubled, first-order laterals tripled and second-order roots length increased four-fold. The effect of mycorrhizal colonization seems to be stronger or different in juvenile than in adult plants, suggesting that ontogenic stage is an important factor determining mycorrhizal effect and the plant performance during the acclimatization period.     

育苗基质中添加丛枝菌根真菌菌剂对辣椒幼苗生长和光合参数的影响

以苏椒5号辣椒为材料,通过在有机育苗基质中添加丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)菌剂,研究AMF对辣椒幼苗生长和光合作用的影响。结果表明:接种AMF的辣椒苗根系有明显的菌根侵染,接种菌剂后显著提高了辣椒幼苗的株高、茎粗,增加了叶片数,同时提高了辣椒幼苗的干质量和鲜质量;光合测定结果表明,AMF能够提高辣椒幼苗的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE),而使胞间二氧化碳浓度(CO2)显著降低;育苗基质中添加AMF菌剂可以培育菌根苗,菌根苗能够有效地提高辣椒幼苗的光合效率从而促进生长,是提高有机基质应用效果和培育菌根苗的有效途径。     

三种丛枝菌根真菌对辣椒根系生长的影响及效应分析

以辣椒品种金塔为试材,播种时分别接种3种丛枝菌根真菌菌剂(G.etunicatum、G.mosseae、G.versiforme),菌根化育苗后定植,研究辣椒生长发育过程中根系的生长及酶活性变化。结果表明:3种丛枝菌根处理的根系生物量,根系活力,根系SOD、POD、CAT活性及产量均明显高于对照。3个供试菌种中,G.mosseae对辣椒根系的促生效应表现最佳。     

菌根真菌对华石斛幼苗生长及光合性能的影响

为了探索菌根真菌在华石斛栽培和保育中的应用,将从野生华石斛分离获得的5株内生真菌接种华石斛组培苗和盆苗.结果表明:真菌能够成功侵入华石斛根内形成菌根;供试菌株能不同程度地提高华石斛幼苗成活率,生物量及促进华石斛幼苗根系生长;并能提高华石斛幼苗叶绿素含量、净光合速率(Pn)和气孔导度(Gs),进而提高其光合性能.综合来看,对组培苗生长和光合性能促进作用较为突出的菌株为S7、S9、S12,对盆苗作用效果较为明显的是S3、S9、S10菌株.因此,这几株菌根真菌对华石斛的人工繁殖、栽培和保育具有实际的应用价值.     

Selection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for citrus growth promotion and Phytophthora suppression

In order to reduce unnecessary amount of P-fertilizer and severity of Phytophthora root rot in citrus orchards, the experiment was set up. Thirteen indigenous arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi species were isolated from rhizosphere soil of citrus orchards in Thailand and were then propagated into three host plants [sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), maize (Zea mays), and leek (Allium cepa)] by trap culture. We also tested whether indigenous AMF species (13 different species) could colonize into three cultivars of citrus scions and rootstocks (Shogun: Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Shogun; Tangerine: C. reticulata; and C-35 citrange: Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata). With root colonization rates, the results indicated that Acaulospora tuberculata and Glomus etunicatum provided the best colonization in all citrus cultivars. We selected, therefore, those AMF species to verify their influences on citrus growth and Phytophthora root rot resistance. Three cultivars of citrus scions and rootstocks, Shogun, Tangerine and C-35 citrange, were inoculated with two effective indigenous AMF species, G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata in order to determine the influences on citrus growth. The plants were investigated to determine the mycorrhizal efficiency index (MEI), AM colonization, P content, and other parameters. Co-inoculation of AMF species (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) with Phytophthora nicotianae was also carried out in Shogun scion/C-35 citrange rootstocks. The results of citrus growth revealed that Shogun and Tangerine inoculated with G. etunicatum produced the highest MEI. Tangerine and C-35 citrange amended with fertilizers and G. etunicatum showed the highest P content in leaves. This indicated that G. etunicatum has an influence on citrus growth and P uptake, suggesting it to be the highly effective strain. Shogun scion/C-35 citrange rootstock combinations that were inoculated by both P. nicotianae and different AM fungi (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) showed root injury at low level of root rot symptom. However, the part of Shogun scions grafted on rootstocks showed severe symptom of shoot die back in treatment inoculated with P. nicotianae alone, while treatment inoculated with different AM species (G. etunicatum or A. tuberculata) and P. nicotianae rendered lower shoot die back symptoms than that of Phytophthora treatment. The low level of shoot die back symptom was shown at first, then healthy young shoot was restored. Our results indicated the facts that different host plants and different AMF species produced different outcomes of growth and pathogen resistance. The application of both AM isolates, therefore, has an enormous potential to be produced the inoculum for citrus orchards.     

Improved growth of salinity-stressed citrus after inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi

The present investigation was conducted during 2006 and 2007 growing seasons in order to study the effects of different salinity levels on the growth and chemical composition of sour orange and Volkamer lemon rootstocks. Besides, this research was also undertaken to elucidate the efficiency of mycorrhizal colonization on controlling the various hazards accompanying salinity stress. One-year-old sour orange and Volkamer lemon rootstocks were kept in a glasshouse and irrigated with control (non-saline), 1500 ppm, 3000 ppm and 4500 ppm of salinity levels. Salinity decreased arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization. In both the AM and non AM, leaf area, trunk cross-sectional area, total, top, leaf and root dry weights were decreased under salinity. The plants inoculated with the AM fungus had significantly higher growth parameters compared to the non-inoculated plants. Increasing the salinity level tended to increase the concentrations of leaf Na, N, Ca and Cl while P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu decreased. On the contrary, inoculating the seedlings with AM tended to increase the levels of P, K, Mg and Zn. Whereas leaf N, Ca and Na of inoculated seedlings was significantly lower than that of un-inoculated ones. Leaf Cl, Fe, Mn and Cu contents did not statistically vary in this concern.     

两种捷克丛枝菌根真菌组合菌剂对设施黄瓜苗期生长的影响

采用日光温室穴盘育苗,在黄瓜播种时接种2种不同的捷克商品丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)组合菌剂BF和VT,比较了不同菌剂对黄瓜苗期生长的影响。结果表明:VT和BF组合菌剂均能不同程度地侵染黄瓜幼苗根系,接种35d时侵染率分别为49.30%、37.65%;接种BF和VT菌剂的幼苗株高、茎粗、干质量、鲜质量均明显高于未接菌处理,且以接种VT菌剂表现最佳;与未接菌对照相比,接种VT菌剂可使黄瓜幼苗的根系活力、叶绿素含量、光合速率显著提高,表明蔬菜专用菌剂VT对黄瓜幼苗生长有较好的促进效果。     

Cultural Variation and Mycorrhizal Status of Blueberry Plants in NW Oregon Commercial Production Fields

ABSTRACT

Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of blueberry plants providing increased access to nutrients from fertilizers and soil. In August of 2001, we sampled 55 fields in Oregon to assess the mycorrhizal status of blueberry plants under production conditions and to determine whether any relationships exist between field characteristics, root distribution, soil characteristics and level of colonization by mycorrhizal fungi. Variation in measured soil characteristics, root type, root distribution and mycorrhizal colonization occurred with cultivar, field age, bed type, rate of nitrogen fertilization, irrigation type, and mulch. Root biomass was lower in the upper 15 cm of soil compared to 15-30 cm depth. Distribution of roots between the two sampled depths varied significantly with field age, nitrogen fertilization rate, and the time of 50% harvest for the different cultivars sampled. Root length was generally greatest in the upper 15 cm of the soil than at the 15-30 cm depth. Root colonization by ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) ranged from 0.5 to 44% of total root length with higher colonization generally occurring in the upper 15 cm of the soil where the majority of smaller, finer roots were found. Colonization generally increased with increasing plant age. In young plants the highest levels of colonization were found in roots from the upper 15 cm of soil while in older plants the highest levels of colonization were found in roots at the 15-30 cm depth. Colonization of roots by EMF in the upper 15 cm of the soil tended to decrease with increasing N fertilization rate, while root colonization at the 15-30 cm depth was unaffected by rate of N fertilization. Roots on cultivars that fruited early in the season tended to have higher levels of colonization than cultivars that fruited later in the growing season. Root biomass and root length were negatively correlated with soil pH and available Ca in soil, while root colonization by EMF was negatively correlated with ammonium levels in the soil. Differences in soil characteristics, root type and distribution, and mycorrhizal colonization found in this study need to be investigated in terms of production efficiency of blueberry in Oregon.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth,mineral nutrition,antioxidant enzymes activity and fruit yield of tomato grown under salinity stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying alleviation of salt stress by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Zhongzha105) plants were cultivated in soil with 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl. Mycorrhization alleviated salt induced reduction of root colonization, growth, leaf area, chlorophyll content, fruit fresh weight and fruit yield. The concentrations of P and K were higher in AM compared with nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. Na concentration was lower in AM than nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. AMF colonization was accompanied by an enhancement of activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves of both salt-affected and control plants. In addition, inoculation with AMF caused reduction in MDA content in comparison to salinized plants, indicating lower oxidative damage in the colonized plants.     

Differences of hyphal and soil phosphatase activities in drought-stressed mycorrhizal trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings

Differences of hyphal and soil phosphatase activities between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants were less studied under drought-stressed (DS) conditions. In a pot experiment, fungal alkaline phosphatase (FALP), and succinate dehydrogenase (FSDH), soil phosphatase activity, both soil and plant P contents were compared in 6.5-month-old trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under 80 days of DS with or without inoculations by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomus diaphanum, Glomus mosseae or Glomus versiforme). Plant growth and biomass production under DS were significantly higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Both the FALP and the FSDH activities under DS were significantly reduced in these three Glomus inoculated seedlings. In general, similar soil neutral and alkaline phosphatase activities, but significantly higher soil acid and total phosphatase activities, were exhibited in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings under both the well-watered (WW) and the DS. Both leaf and root P contents were significantly higher in the AM colonized seedlings, but soil available P contents were lower in the growth media with AM seedlings. Our results showed that higher hyphal enzymes’ activities, soil acid and total phosphatase activities, and plant P contents in AM colonized seedlings, particularly in Glomus mosseae-colonized seedlings and/or under DS, would result in a better growth of the host plants, which might be the basis for enhancing drought tolerance in plants.     

Screening of AM fungi and Azotobacter chroococcum under natural,solarization, chemical sterilization and moisture conservation practices for commercial mango nursery production in north-west Himalayas

The present study investigates the performance of mango seedlings screened with indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and Azotobacter chroococcum strains under solarized, chemical sterilized and natural soil conditions. Two isolates each of AM fungi namely, Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerdemann) and Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.), and two strains of A. chroococcum viz., A. chroococcum strain-I (AZ1) and A. chroococcum strain-II (AZ2) were inoculated at nursery stage under four different moisture conservation practices viz., black polyethylene mulch and organic mulches (grass mulch, cover crops, green manure) and clean cultivation. The observations on microbial population, root colonization, growth parameters and leaf nutrient content of the seedlings were recorded. Mango seedling's inoculated with G. fasciculatum and AZ1 had increased seedling's height, diameter, leaf area and total root length, microbial consortium of the rhizosphere soil and leaf N, P, K and Zn content in plots where solarization and black polyethylene mulching was used. The study revealed that the inoculation of mango stones and the saplings with G. fasciculatum and AZ1 under solarized black polyethylene mulched practice may be considered the best practice for raising mango nursery and maintaining soil health under rain-fed conditions of mid-hills of north-west Himalayas.     

Mycorrhizal colonization improves onion (Allium cepa L.) yield and water use efficiency under water deficit condition

Most plants benefit from mycorrhizal symbiosis through improvement of water status and nutrient uptake. A factorial experiment with complete randomized blocks design was carried out in greenhouse at Tabriz University, Iran in 2005–2006. Experimental treatments were (a) irrigation interval (7, 9 and 11 days), (b) soil condition (sterile and non-sterile) and (c) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species (Glomus versiforme, Glomus intraradices, Glomus etunicatum) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants as control. Onion (Allium cepa L. cv. Azar-shahr) seeds were sown in sterile nursery and inoculated with fungi species. One nursery left uninoculated as control. Nine weeks old seedlings then were transplanted to the pots. Average pre-irrigation soil water contents reached to about 67, 61.6 and 57.5% of FC corresponding to 7, 9 and 11 days irrigation intervals, respectively. At onion bulb maturity stage (192 days after transplanting), yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield response factor (K_y) were determined. The results indicated that AMF colonization increased soil water depletion significantly. G. versiforme under both soil conditions (sterile and non-sterile) and G. etunicatum in sterile soil depleted soil water effectively (P < 0.05). Mycorrhizal fungi improved WUE significantly (P < 0.0001) in both soil conditions. It raised by G. versiforme about 2.4-fold (0.289 g mm⁻¹) in comparison with the control (0.117 g mm⁻¹). G. intraradices and G. etunicatum also had significantly higher WUE than control. Apparently water deficit in 11-day irrigation interval led to lower yield and WUE compared to 9-day interval; the later resulted highest WUE (0.254 g mm⁻¹). Mycorrhizal plants increased seasonal ET significantly due to enhancing in plant growth; G. versiforme in both sterile and non-sterile soil and G. etunicatum in sterile soil had the highest ET. Bulb yield was influenced by irrigation period and fungi species. G. versiforme produced higher yield than other treatments (135.27 g/pot). Mycorrhizal plants in 11-day irrigation interval in spite of suffering from water stress had more bulb yield than non-mycorrhizal plants in all irrigation intervals. Yield in general was higher in 9-day treatments than other irrigating internals significantly (P < 0.05). Onion yield response factor (K_y) was decreased by AMF colonization; implying that symbiosed plants become less responsive to water deficit (longer irrigation interval) compared to the control ones.