The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus levels on dry matter production and root traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus levels on root traits of cucumber plants, a factorial experiment was carried out based on a randomized completely design pot culture. Four phosphorus fertilization treatments, including 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg P kg-1 soil possessed phosphorus fertilization levels as the first factor. At the second factor arranged Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices of mycorrhiza species and non-inoculum as a control with three replications were conducted in the greenhouse of agricultural research center of west Azarbaijan province Urmia, in 2013. Results show that above-ground dry matter of inoculated cucumber at both species with 155.00 and 160.83 mg/plant had the highest values. Both species had more root fresh and dry weight, root length and root volume than control. Colonization of G. mosseae and G. intraradices, with 53.20 and 44.59% had the highest values at the 2 mg P kg-1 soil. G. mosseae and G. intraradices had the highest leaf phosphorus with 486.06 and 477.60 mg/100 g of leaf dry weight at the 15 mg P kg-1 soil, respectively. Leaf phosphorus (r = 0.62**), root dry weight (r = 0.79**), root length (r=0.44**), root volume (r = 0.82**) and fresh root weight (r = 0.74**) had positive correlation coefficients with above-ground dry matter. Although application of phosphorus increased above-ground dry matter and root traits, but our study clearly demonstrates that mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in the enhancement of growth of cucumber plants under very low phosphorus conditions.

Appropriate Compost/Soil Ratios for Sustainable Production of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) under Mycorrhization in Pots Experiment

“…These results confirm those of Marx et al 37 , who demonstrated that the more available the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, the less the roots mycorrhization. The mycorrhizal colonization under uninoculated plants (treatment T 0 ) was also low, confirming the ubiquitous inefficient native of fungi occurring naturally in most agricultural soils 38,39 . However, appropriate compost/soil ratio+AMF mycorrhiza increased the growth parameters of Allium sativum, in conformity with increased vegetative growth of Allium (plant height, number of leaves and other) following application of compost extract+biofertilizers 40 .…”