Improvement of Cupressus atlantica Gaussen growth by inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to determine whether inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi could improve survival and growth of seedlings in degraded soils of Morocco. Methods and Results: Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of Cupressus atlantica trees in the N’Fis valley (Haut Atlas, Morocco). AM spores were extracted from the soil, identified and this mixture of native AM fungi was propagated on maize for 12 weeks on a sterilized soil to enrich the fungal inoculum. Then C. atlantica seedlings were inoculated with and without (control) mycorrhizal maize roots, cultured in glasshouse conditions and further, transplanted into the field. The experiment was a randomized block design with one factor and three replication blocks. The results showed that a high AM fungal diversity was associated with C. atlantica; native AM fungi inoculation was very effective on the growth of C. atlantica seedlings in glasshouse conditions and this plant growth stimulation was maintained for 1 year after outplanting. Conclusions: Inoculation of C. atlantica with AM fungi increased growth and survival in greenhouse and field. Significance and Impact of the Study: The data indicate that use of native species of AM fungi may accelerate reforestation of degraded soils. Further studies have to be performed to determine the persistence of these mycorrhizae for a longer period of plantation and to measure the effects of this microbial inoculation on soil biofunctioning.

Comparative field survival and growth of selected Ethiopian native tree species and the effect of whole soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation

“…However, the CoA inoculum resulted in statistically significant negative effect on RGR-H of C. africana at the 2nd month. Hence, this result is different from other research reports of positive AMF inoculation effect on seedlings' survival and growth (Ouahmane et al, 2006;Manaut et al, 2015). However, it is quite similar to the result obtained from an experiment in California, USA (Aprahamian et al, 2016).…”

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation improves Albizia saman and Paraserianthes falcataria growth in post-opencast coal mine field in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…increased survival rates by 61%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. Corresponding to our result, inoculation with AM fungi increased the survival rate of Cupressus atlantica five months after transplanting in degraded land of the Mediterranean ecosystem (Ouahmane et al, 2007). Glomus fasciculatum and G. macrocarpum increased the survival rate of C. siamea in semiarid Indian wasteland one year after transplanting (Giri et al, 2005).…”

Seedling performance of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex. Steudel in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

“…australis, provoking acceleration in seedling emergence. In addition, the use of certain species of AM fungi may accelerate the reforestation of degraded environments (Ouahmane et al 2007). Therefore, these fungi are suitable as 'bio-accelerators' for Phragmites-based phytotechnologies, especially in cold areas where efficiency of the plants' working life needs to be extended during each seasonal remediation cycle.…”