Abstract
ABSTRACT The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the production of rootstocks is a strategy to promote faster plant growth. However, this response depends on the symbiont species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on the development and physiology of citrange 'Fepagro C37 Reck' rootstock. Four species of AMF were used in the experiment: Scutellospora heterogama, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus etunicatum, and Acaulospora sp., and a control treatment. The experiment was arranged in a randomized blocks design, with 5 treatments, 3 replicates, and 10 plants per plot. Every 15 days, height (cm) and stem diameter (mm) of plants were measured in the nursery. At 330 days, the number of leaves, leaf area (cm²), fresh and dry mass of roots and shoot (g/plant), root and shoot reserve content, and AMF colonization were evaluated. The AMF inoculation promoted an accelerated vegetative growth, resulting in greater height and diameter. The fungi also promoted greater absorption of most of the nutrients and increase in all other parameters evaluated. However, no effect was found on the reserve content of the rootstock. Roots were colonized with moderate presence of arbuscules and low presence of vesicles. AMF, regardless of species, influence the development and physiology of the citrange 'Fepagro C37 Reck' rootstock.
Highlights
Citrus production in Brazil is characterized by a low genetic diversity of rootstocks, making it vulnerable to new diseases (Fochesato et al, 2007)
The seeds of the citrange ‘Fepagro C37 Reck’ rootstock [P. trifoliata (L.) Raf. x C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck.] were obtained from mature fruits harvested from mother plants grown in the citrus collection of the Experimental Agronomic Station at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), using the methodology described by Souza & Schäfer (2006)
The selected AMF species were selected from an initial study by Focchi et al (2004) who carried out a study on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi naturally occurring in citrus orchards in Rio Grande do Sul
Summary
Citrus production in Brazil is characterized by a low genetic diversity of rootstocks, making it vulnerable to new diseases (Fochesato et al, 2007). One way to reduce risks is the use of different species/varieties of rootstocks, with different characteristics (Souza et al, 2005; Schäfer et al, 2006). Studies are needed to test different species with rootstock potential and that have, for example, resistance to diseases, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and affinity with scion varieties of market interest. The performance should be analyzed throughout the production cycle, from clonal seedling formation in the nursery, during the initial growth in the orchard, and during the full fruit production (Zaccheo et al, 2012; Gonzatto et al, 2011). The time required for clonal seedling production in the southern region of the country is longer, increasing the production cost and, losing to other regions of Brazil in the competitive market (Souza et al, 2005)
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