Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve mineral nutrition and tolerance of olive tree to Verticillium wilt

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the interaction of autochthonous mycorrhizal fungi “Rhizolive consortium” and the soil-borne Verticillium dahliae on root colonization, plant growth and nutrients accumulation in olive plants. The assays were conducted on a susceptible olive cultivar “Picholine Marocaine” inoculated for three months with “Rhizolive consortium” then infected with V. dahliae under greenhouse conditions. It was found that root colonization was greatly improved by “Rhizolive consortium” application as well as arbuscular colonization rate in olive plants infected with V. dahliae after 12 months. “Rhizolive consortium” enhanced growth and biomass traits in infected olive plants. Nutrients accumulation has been significantly improved in mycorrhizal-infected olive plants. This leads to the conclusion that the beneficial effect of Rhizolive enhances the tolerance of olive plant disease and supersedes the pathogenic effect of V. dahliae. The use of this AMF consortium as a potential biological control agent could also be critical in cultivation of olive trees in Mediterranean ecosystems where nutrient deficiency often occurs and where olive-growing occupied a major place.