Application Of Mycorrhiza Research Articles

Effects of long-term organic and mineral fertilizers on bulk density and penetration resistance in semi-arid Mediterranean soil conditions

Soil aggregation is of great importance in agriculture due to its positive effect on soil physical properties, plant growth and the environment. A long-term (1996–2008) field experiment was performed to investigate the role of mycorrhizal inoculation and organic fertilizers on some of soil properties of Mediterranean soils (Typic Xerofluvent, Menzilat clay–loam soil). We applied a rotation with winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L .) and maize ( Zea mays L.) as a second crop during the periods of 1996 and 2008. The study consisted of five experimental treatments; control, mineral fertilizer (300–60–150 kg N–P–K ha −1), manure at 25 t ha −1, compost at 25 t ha −1 and mycorrhiza-inoculated compost at 10 t ha −1 with three replicates. The highest organic matter content both at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm soil depths were obtained with manure application, whereas mineral fertilizer application had no effect on organic matter accumulation. Manure, compost and mycorrhizal inoculation + compost application had 69%, 32% and 24% higher organic matter contents at 0–30 cm depth as compared to the control application. Organic applications had varying and important effects on aggregation indexes of soils. The greatest mean weight diameters (MWD) at 15–30 cm depth were obtained with manure, mycorrhiza-inoculated compost and compost applications, respectively. The decline in organic matter content of soils in control plots lead disintegration of aggregates demonstrated on significantly lower MWD values. The compost application resulted in occurring the lowest bulk densities at 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depths, whereas the highest bulk density values were obtained with mineral fertilizer application. Measurements obtained in 2008 indicated that manure and compost applications did not cause any further increase in MWD at manure and compost receiving plots indicated reaching a steady state. However, compost with mycorrhizae application continued to significant increase (P < 0.05) in MWD values of soils. Organic applications significantly lowered the soil bulk density and penetration resistance. The lowest penetration resistance (PR) at 0–50 cm soil depth was obtained with mycorrhizal inoculated compost, and the highest PR was with control and mineral fertilizer applications. The results clearly revealed that mycorrhiza application along with organic fertilizers resulted in decreased bulk density and penetration resistance associated with an increase in organic matter and greater aggregate stability, indicated an improvement in soil structure.

Effect of mycorrhiza application on plant growth and nutrient uptake in cucumber production under field conditions

Mycorrhiza application in horticultural production in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey has been studied under field conditions for several years. The effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been evaluated under field conditions for cucumber production. The parameters measured were seedling survival, plant growth and yield, and root colonization. In 1998 and 1999, Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum inoculated cucumber seedlings were treated with and without P (100 kg P2O5 ha-1) application. A second experiment was set up to evaluate the response of cucumber to the inoculation with a consortia of indigenous mycorrhizae, G. mosseae, G. etunicatum, Glomus clarum, Glomus caledonium and a mixture of these four species. Inoculated and control non inoculated cucumber seedlings were established under field conditions in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2004. Seedling quality, seedling survival under field conditions and yield response to mycorrhiza were tested. Fruits were harvested periodically; at blossom, plant leaves and root samples were taken for nutrient content and mycorrhizal colonization analysis respectively. The field experiment results showed that mycorrhiza inoculation significantly increased cucumber seedling survival, fruit yield, P and Zn shoot concentrations. Indigenous mycorrhiza inoculum was successful in colonizing plant roots and resulted in better plant growth and yield. The relative effectiveness of each of the inocula tested was not consistent in the different experiments, although inoculated plants always grew better than control no inoculated. The most relevant result for growers was the increased survival of seedlings.

Micropropagation of olive (Olea europaea L.) and application of mycorrhiza to improve plantlet establishment

Micropropagation methods were developed for the three French varieties of olive (Olea europaea L.), Aglandau and Tanche, that have the Appelation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) status and one ecotype (05300, Laragne, France). Explants consisting of partially lignified nodal segments were collected from rejuvenated glasshouse-grown plant material. Nodal explants with axillary buds were cultured on different media. For AOC varieties, olive medium modified (OM mod) to contain half the concentration of macroelements was the most efficient in inducing bud break and growth when supplemented with 30 g l−1sucrose and 4 mg l−1 zeatin. The resulting shoot buds were further multiplied and maintained on OM mod medium. Rooting was best achieved on OM supplemented with 4 mg l−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). For the Laragne ecotype, maximal shoot proliferation occurred when explants were cultured on woody plant medium supplemented with 15 g l−1 sucrose and 0.1 mg l−1 zeatin. Efficient rooting was achieved with 1 mg l−1 IBA combined with 0.75 mg l−1 naphthaleneacetic acid. After acclimatization in the glasshouse, survival rates ranged from 57 to 92%, depending on the genotype. Inoculation of Laragne ecotype microplantlets with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae significantly improved plant survival and subsequent plant development and growth.

Pertumbuhan, Serapan Hara dan Kualitas Turfgrass pada Beberapa Dosis Pemberian Pupuk Hayati Mikoriza

The objective of the research was to study the effect of mycorrhiza dosage on nutrient uptake, growth and turfgrass quality. The research was conducted at IPB turfgrass experimental farm, Darmaga, Bogor. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatment consisted of five dosages of mycorrhiza (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 g per pot). The result showed that application of mycorrhiza at 300 g per pot increased coverage area and dry weight of clipping, and decreased vertical height, but it did not significantly increase nutrient uptake and quality of turfgrass compared to control. Key words : Mycorrhiza, turfgrass, growth, nutrient uptake, quality

Improvement of production of high-yield poplar varieties seedlings by mycorrhiza application

Research related to the effects of treatment by mycorrhiza preparations Ectovit, Rhodovit (preparations Symbio-m Ltd., Czech Rep.) and their combination on growth of four high-yield poplar clones of Populus deltoides and one variety of Populus x euramericana are presented in this paper. In order to make more accurate assessment of mycorrhiza effect, soil characteristics such as morphology, texture and chemical composition were determined. The study results indicate that mycorrhized cuttings had the same or the better survival in all the study clones compared to the control. The application of the preparation Ectovit and Rhodovit resulted averagely in the first class planting stock of all the study clones. The combination of the preparations Ectovit and Rhodovit produced averagely the first class planting stock only of the clone Populus x euramericana.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza can depress translocation of zinc to shoots of host plants in soils moderately polluted with zinc

There is increasing and widespread interest in the maintenance of soil quality and remediation strategies for management of soils contaminated with organic pollutants and trace metals or metalloids. There is also a growing body of evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can exert protective effects on host plants under conditions of soil metal contamination. Research has focused on the mechanisms involved and has raised the prospect of utilizing the mutualistic association in soil re-vegetation programmes. In this short paper we briefly review this research, summarize some recent work and highlight some new data which indicate that the alleviation of metal phytotoxicity, particularly Zn toxicity, by arbuscular mycorrhiza may occur by both direct and indirect mechanisms. Binding of metals in mycorrhizal structures and immobilization of metals in the mycorrhizosphere may contribute to the direct effects. Indirect effects may include the mycorrhizal contribution to balanced plant mineral nutrition, especially P nutrition, leading to increased plant growth and enhanced metal tolerance. Further research on the potential application of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the bioremediation or management of metal-contaminated soils is also discussed.

Integrated moisture stress management in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 201011 and 201112 at Hisar, Haryana, to study integrated moisture stress management in wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori &amp; Paol.]. The treat- ments consisted of 4 moisture regimes in main plots, viz. irrigation at crown-root initiation (CRI) + 100 mm cumula- tive pan evaporation (CPE), CRI + 150 mm CPE, CRI + 200 mm CPE and CRI only, and 6 moisture-stress man- agement practices in sub plots, viz. no moisture stress-management, seed hardening (SH) by CaCl , SH + KCl 2 spray, SH + mycorrhizae application + KCl spray, SH + mycorrhizae + KCl spray + kaolin spray and Pusa hydrogel application. Significantly the highest plant height, numbers of tillers, leaf-area index, leaf-area duration, dry-matter accumulation and crop growth rate were recorded with irrigation at CRI + 100 mm CPE over irrigation at CRI only. Similarly significantly highest grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, spikes/m2, spike length, spikelets/spike, grains/spike, grain weight/spike, test weight and net returns were recorded with CRI + 100 mm CPE over irrigation at CRI only. The treatment SH + mycorrhizae + KCl spray + kaolin spray recorded significantly highest plant height, numbers of tillers, leaf-area index, leaf-area duration, dry-matter accumulation, crop-growth rate, spikes/ m2, spike length, spikelets/spike, grains/spike, grain weight/spike and test weight over irrigation at CRI only. Sig- nificantly the highest grain and straw yields, as well as net returns were recorded in SH + mycorrhizae + KCl spray + kaolin spray over irrigation at CRI only.

Effect of Nursery Production Method, Irrigation, and Inoculation with Mycorrhizae-Forming Fungi on Establishment of Quercus Virginiana

Live oak (Quercus virgpiiana) trees were grown to about a 2.5 in. (6 cm) caliper in various container and field production systems, then transplanted to a landscape with and without mycorrhizae-forming spores under two irrigation regimes. Trees grew at nearly the same rate in the nurseries, regardless of production method. However, root distribution was altered. Low-profile, air root-pruning containers had less roots on the outside surface of the root ball than did traditional plastic containers. Application of mycorrhizae- forming fungi to the backfill soil at planting in a landscape had no impact on live oak the first 30 months after planting. However, nursery production method and irrigation frequency following planting had a huge influence on tree survival. Irrigating 2.5 in. (6 cm) caliper live oak for only 6 weeks after planting in spring in a slightly drier than normal year resulted in 43% tree death rate. Irrigating twice each week through the first summer after planting in spring kept all trees alive. Under limited irrigation conditions, trees from containers died sooner and more trees died than field-grown, B&amp;B trees. Root-pruned, field-grown, B&amp;B trees survived better than all others following transplanting. Trees planted from all nursery production methods survived and grew similarly, provided they were irrigated regularly through the first growing season. Under limited irrigation, landscape managers would obtain the most live trees by planting root-pruned, fieldgrown, B&amp;B nursery stock.

Effect of integrating inorganic fertilizer with vermicompost and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) on the productivity of sunflower

An experiment was conducted to study effect of organic manures integrated with chemical and biofertilizers on growth and yield parameters of sunflower for three years at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif (June-September) season. Application of vermicompost at the rate of 2 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher yield (1070, 984 and 1229 kg ha-1 in 1994, 1995 and 1996 respectively) compared to farm yard manure and no manure. Application of 100 per cent recommended chemical fertilizers (NPK) resulted in significant increase in plant height, head diameter, 100 seed weight and seed yield over 50 per cent NPK and control. Among the biofertilizers, soil application of Vasicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) recorded higher seed yield over Phosphorus Solublising Bacteria (PSB) and control. Combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers significantly influenced the sunflower seed yield. Application of vermicompost with 100 per cent recommended NPK recorded the highest seed yield of 1374, 1287 and 1458 kg ha-1 in all the three years, respectively. Fifty per cent of recommended NPK along with vermicompost recorded higher seed yield than 100 per cent NPK with FYM.

Construction and characterization of genomic libraries of two endomycorrhizal fungi: Glomus versiforme and Gigaspora margarita

Arbuscular (AM) mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with the roots of plants that lead to increased growth and health of many plants. The agricultural application of mycorrhizas has remained difficult since AM fungi are obligate biotrophs that show only very limited growth in the absence of a host. As a first step in the molecular and genetic characterization of these fungi we have constructed genomic libraries of Glomus versiforme and Gigaspora margarita. We demonstrated that in addition to fungal genes these libraries contain clones derived from the genome of endosymbiotic bacteria that are present in fungal spores. A genomic clone encoding elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1) was isolated from G. versiforme and to our knowledge this is the first time a low copy number gene was cloned from an AM fungus. The EF-1 promoter is highly active in mycorrhizal roots and will be an important tool for the expression of foreign genes in the fungus.

The Advances in the Study on Mycorrhizas of Fruit Trees in Dry Tropics of Mexico

The productivity of marginal soils frequently found in the arid tropics might be improved by using VAM fungi as “biofertilizer” and as a tool of sustainable agricultural systems. Study of mycorrhizas of fruit trees was performed in 1987 in western Mexico. More progress has been made in resources, taxonomy, anatomy and morphology, physiology, ecology, effects, and application of mycorrhizas in fruit trees and ornamental plants production. Currently, five genera has been identified and inoculated plants showed significant difference in respect to plants not inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi. Citrus trees were highly dependent on mycorrhizae for normal growth and development, while the banana plants showed lower levels of root colonization by different strains of VAM fungi. The added endomycorrhizal inoculum significantly increased root fungal colonization in fruit trees and reduce the time in nursery. The current status and research trends in the study of fruit tree mycorrhizas in western Mexico are introduced, and the application prospects in sustainable agriculture also are discussed.

The Advances in the Study on Mycorrhizas of Fruit Trees in China

The study of mycorrhizas of fruit trees was carried out in the 1980s in China. More progress has been made in resources, taxonomy, anatomy and morphology, physiology, ecology, effects, and application of mycorrhizas in fruit trees. The present status and research trends in the study of fruit tree mycorrhizas in China were introduced, and the application prospects of mycorrhizas in fruit tree cultivation also were discussed.

Influence of Mycorrhizae, Rhizobium and Zinc On Growth, Nodulation, Zn, Cu And Mn Content Of Lentil (Lens esculenta)

Summary Pot culture studies conducted on lentil with 4 levels of Zn (0, 1.25, 2.50 and 5.0 ppm) and 4 culture treatments (no culture, Mycorrhizae, Rhizobium and Rhizobium + Mycorrhizae) revealed that shoot yield of lentil improved with Zn as well as culture treatments. The efficiency of Zn improved with culture treatments and viceversa. The combined application of Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium produced higher yield. Culture treatments enhanced Zn content, irrespective of Zn and culture treatments. Rhizobium in combination with Zn resulted in highest Zn content. Zinc suppressed Cu and Mn content, whereas Rhizobium and Mycorrhizae increased their content. Nodules increased with culture treatments, a maximum number was noticed with Mycorrhizae + Rhizobium. Rhizobium and Rhizobium + Mycorrhizae enhanced Cu content. The Mn content increased with Mycorrhizae and Rhizobium.