Arbuscular mycorrhizal enhancement of iron concentration by Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf and Citrus reticulata Blanco grown on sand medium under different pH

Abstract

The effect of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus versiforme) on iron contents by two citrus rootstocks (trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf] and red tangerine [Citrus reticulata Blanco]) was studied in sand culture under different pH conditions. Seeds were sown in a mixed substrate (perlite/sand, 1:1 [v/v]) inoculated with or without mycorrhizal inoculum. The experiment was carried out at four pH levels by applying nutrient solution at pH 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, or 8.0 to P. trifoliata and pH 5.2, 6.2, 7.2, or 8.2 to C. reticulata. No AM colonization was found in uninoculated control (NM) and plants, and root colonization in AM plants was depressed under iron deficiency at high pH. Colonization by G. versiforme led to higher dry weights of shoots compared with NM treatments, suggesting that G. versiforme enhanced plant growth. Higher concentration of chlorophyll and active iron, lower ratios of P/Fe and 50(10P+K)/Fe were present in AM plants than NM treatments. Nevertheless, G. versiforme improved root Fe (III) chelate reductase activity of P. trifoliata and C. reticulata. The data indicate that plant uptake and translocation of iron were enhanced and AM fungi may be considered as a potential tool for bioremediation of citrus iron deficiency.