The effect of co-inoculation of pea plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobium on the nodulation, growth and productivity.

Abstract

Soil microorganisms can be used to decrease the input of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals. Among soil microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium spp. can promote plant growth. Integration of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus with Rhizobium spp. thus appears to be a promising approach for sustainable agriculture. The study evaluated the response of pea (Pisum sativum) to AMF species Glomus fasciculatum and Glomus intraradix and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae, regarding the growth, nodulation and yield. Pea plants were grown in pots until the flowering stage (35 days). Five replicates of control, with Rhizobium and mycorrhiza alone and the dual inoculation of Rhizobium and AMF were maintained during present studies. The obtained results demonstrated that the dual inoculation of pea plants significantly increased the plant growth, nodule biomass and nodule number in comparison with single inoculation with AMF and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae.