Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the rooting and growth of beach plum (Prunus maritima) cuttings

Abstract

SummaryThe objective of this work was to study the effect of inoculation with Glomus mosseae, G. diaphanum or G. etunicatum on the rooting and growth of beach plum cuttings. Among these three AM fungi, the highest percentage rooting (58.6% for hardwood cuttings; 40.2% for softwood cuttings), the maximum number of lateral fine roots (27.4% for hardwood cuttings; 18.5% for softwood cuttings), the greatest dry weights (DWs) of roots (0.264 g for hardwood cuttings; 0.178 g for softwood cuttings), the greatest DWs of shoots (4.57 g for hardwood cuttings; 3.08g for softwood cuttings), heights of cuttings (61.3 cm for hardwood cuttings; 58.4 cm for softwood cuttings), and the largest total leaf areas of cuttings (1,010.9 cm2 for hardwood cuttings; 689.4 cm2 for softwood cuttings) were observed following inoculation with G. mosseae. The greatest root lengths were observed after inoculation with G. etunicatum (19.7 cm for hardwood cuttings; 16.2 cm for softwood cuttings). Except for the numbers of primary root generated, G. mosseae and G. etunicatum inoculations were significantly better than the controls in all parameters studied. As for numbers of primary roots, inoculation with AM fungi gave values close to the controls. Greater uptakes of macronutrients (P, K, Mg, and Ca) and micronutrients (Mn, Cu, Zn and B) were observed in beach plum 80 d after inoculation with each of the three Glomus species than in controls. Among the three Glomus species, G. mosseae was the most effective, G. etunicatum was next, and G. diaphanum gave macronutrient uptake values close to the controls. The percentages of root colonisation (59.46% for hardwood cuttings; 45.32% for softwood cuttings), and AM fungal spore counts (145.32 spores 25 g–1 for hardwood cuttings; 123.24 spores 25 g–1 for softwood cuttings) were highest in cuttings inoculated with G. mosseae. This study showed the beneficial effects of inoculation with each of the three Glomus fungi, especially G. mosseae and G. etunicatum, on inducing rooting and growth in beach plum cuttings. In addition, hardwood cuttings responded better to inoculation with AM fungi than softwood cuttings.