Growth response of maize plants (Zea mays L.) to wheat and lentil pre-cropping and to indigenous mycorrhizae in field soil

Abstract

The presence of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi may have significant effects on the growth and on the root morphology of plants, under arid and semi arid soil conditions. Lentil and wheat are the traditional crops grown in Southeastern Turkey. In this study soil samples from the Harran plain were collected from the 0-15 cm surface layer under wheat or lentil crop residues and used in a pot experiment carried out under greenhouse conditions with four levels of P fertilization: 0, 20, 40 and 80 mg kg -1 soil as Ca(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 . Half of the soil batches were submitted to a heating treatment (80°C, 2 h). The maize variety PX-9540 was grown in the pots for 57 days. At harvest, plant dry weight, root length, P and Zn concentrations in plant tissues were measured and the extent of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was determined. Results showed that maize plants grown in soils where lentil had been previously cultivated grew better than those grown after wheat cultivation. In both cases, P concentration in plant tissues increased with increased P fertilization. There were no significant differences in root AMF colonization between soils with different crop sequences, nor with soils submitted to high temperature. Previous crops had a significant influence on the growth of plants that could be related to differences in the indigenous mycorrhiza inoculum potential and efficacy that can promote P uptake and benefit plant growth.Additional key words: crop and soil management, crop rotation, P fertilization, temperature. ResumenRespuesta de plantas de maíz (Zea mays L.) a cultivos previos de trigo y lenteja y a la presencia de micorrizas nativas en el suelo La presencia de micorrizas nativas puede tener efectos significativos en el crecimiento y la morfología del sistema radicular de las plantas especialmente en zonas áridas y semi áridas. Los cultivos tradicionales en el sureste de Turquía son las lentejas y el trigo. Se obtuvieron muestras de la capa superior de suelo de la llanura de Harran (0-15 cm de profundidad), después del cultivo de lentejas o de trigo, y se utilizaron en un experimento en macetas y bajo condiciones de invernadero, con cuatro niveles de fertilización fosforada (0, 20, 40 y 80 mg kg -1 suelo). La mitad de cada muestra compuesta de los suelos se sometió a un tratamiento de calor (80°C, 2 h) y se cultivó la variedad de maíz PX-9540 en los contenedores durante 57 días. Se determinaron los siguientes parámetros: materia seca, colonización de raíz por hongos formadores de micorrizas arbusculares (HMA), longitud de raíz, y concentraciones de P y Zn en las plantas. Crecieron mejor las plantas de maíz cultivadas en suelos con un cultivo previo de lentejas que de trigo. En ambos casos, la concentración de P en las plantas se incrementó con cantidades crecientes de fertilización fosforada. No hubo diferencias significativas en la colonización por HMA de las raíces entre los dos suelos utilizados procedentes de cultivos diferentes y tampoco con el suelo sometido al tratamiento térmic...

Comparative analyses of Turkey agricultural soils: Potential communities of indigenous and exotic mycorrhiza species' effect on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and nutrient uptakes

“…The results show that mycorrhizae inoculation is also vital for optimum growth. The results also indicate that a higher mycorrhizal colonization due to AM fungal inoculation was positively correlated with crop yields, and P and Zn uptake, which is agreement with the findings of Lekberg and Koide [6], and Almaca and Ortas [40]. Since plant tissue P and Zn concentrations after inoculation with indigenous AMF spore suspensions were less than the critical level and after inoculation with exotic AMF strains it was over the critical level, it is important to use mycorrhizal fungi to increase the plant nutrient concentration to an optimum level.…”

“…In addition, mycorrhizal inoculation had a significant effect on root colonization. Ortas [8], and Almaca and Ortas [40] have previously shown that mycorrhizal inoculation, under sterilized and non-sterilized soil conditions, significantly enhanced maize root colonization.…”

“…Almaca and Ortas [40] used Harran soil in field and pot experiments, and found that previous crops have a significant influence on the growth of maize plants, which could be related to indigenous mycorrhizae potential and efficacy, allowing the facilitation of P uptake and favouring plant growth, in agreement with the work of Martinez and Johnson [12]. Mickelson and Kaeppler [44] suggested the importance of cultivar choice in combination with the management of mycorrhizal populations by inoculation or crop rotation to optimize maize productivity in reduced input systems.…”

Efecto de diferentes niveles de fósforo en aguacate (Persea americana) inoculado con hongos micorrízicos arbusculares

“…Some studies report that increases in P levels reduce the development of mycorrhizal symbiosis; However, the levels at which such a reduction occurs are variable (Almaca and Ortas, 2010) and are based on the identity of the HMA species and the plant genotype (Lacerda et al, 2011). In this case, the interactions between mycorrhizal inoculation and the addition of phosphate fertilizer showed different effects.…”

Molecular diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in three different agricultural regions of Turkey

“…In a field experiment conducted in the Turkish Mediterranean region, Celik et al (2004) indicated that organic fertilizer or/and inoculation with AMF spores could improve soil physical and chemical properties. It was indicated that the indigenous AMF isolated from the Mediterranean region can significantly contribute to plant growth and P uptake in Turkey (Aka-Kacar et al 2010;Almaca and Ortas 2010;Ortas 2010). These works have focused on AMF infection rate, spore morphology and density.…”