Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi regulate tomato silicon absorption

Abstract

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can regulate the absorption of micro- and macro-nutrients and promote the growth and development of plants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AMF colonization on the Si absorption of tomato. Through potted planting experiment in the greenhouse, the symbiotic system of tomato seedlings and AMF, including Glomus versiforme (Gv), Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Acaulospora delicata (Ad), was established. The colonization rate, growth indicators and the Si content and concentration were analyzed. Different extractants were used to extract and determine the different Si-fractions in the rhizosphere soil. This study showed that the inoculation of Gv, Fm and Ad could promote the growth and increase the Si content in roots and shoots of tomato seedlings, and differences were found between AMF strains. Concentration of different binding states of Si in tomato rhizosphere soil was in descending order as citric acid-Si > NaOAc-HAc-Si > Oxalic acid-ammonium oxalate-Si > Na2CO3-Si > Na2HCO3-Si. When the tomato rhizosphere soils inoculated with various AMFs were extracted with the same extractant, the Si-fraction concentration changed with different AMF inoculations. AMF inoculation could regulate the conversion of different Si-fractions in the rhizosphere soil, which may be an important mechanism of AMF regulating the Si absorption of the tomato.