314 Growth and Nutrition of Chrysanthemum Microplants Inoculated with Arbuscular-Mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract

Effects of inoculation with arbuscular endomycorrhizal fungi (Acaulospora scrobiculata and Glomus mosseae) on acclimatization and growth of chrysanthemum (Dendrathema glandiflora Tzevelev) plants, propagated in vitro, under different conditions of fertilization (0, 20, and 40 mg·L-1 of NPK) were studied. Mycorrhizal colonization did not influence surviving percentage of chrysanthemum plantlets during the acclimatization stage; however, we could colonize the developing roots and reduce the amount of inoculum needed and beneficial effects on plant growth were obtained during early stages of colonizing. Plant growth in greenhouse was regulated by synergism between the effect of endomycorrhizal fungus type and soil fertilization with N, P, and K. Effects of A. scrobiculata were observed as an increasein number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter, root volume and fresh and dry weight of leaves, stem and root. The G. mosseae fungus improved N, P, Mg, and Zn content in leaves; P, K, Ca, Mg, and Zinc in stem and Ca content in root. On the other hand, A. scrobiculata only increased N content in leaves, stem and roots; P content in leaves and roots, and Ca content in stem. Percentage of mycorrhizal colonization on roots was affected by adding N, P, and K to soil. The highest values were obtained with fertilization doses of 20 mg·L-1. The number of spores of mycorrhizal fungi was increased by adding fertilizer to soil (40 mg·L-1 of NPK).