Effect of different strains of mycorrhizal fungus on some root traits in Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.

Subject Areas :

Mohammad Rezvani ¹ (Ph.D. Student of Agroecology, Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Science and Research Branch.,)
mohammad ardekani ² (Assistant Professoe of Agronomy and Plant Breeding Department, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch.)
fahad rajaei ³ (Assistant Professoe of Soil and Water Research Institute of Iran, Tehran.)
gfhorban normohammadi ⁴ (Professoe of Islamic Azad University of Tehran, Science and Research Branch.)
faeaeh zafarani ⁵ (Ph.D. Student of Agronomy Department, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University.)
saa'dollah teimori ⁶ (Researcher of Agriculture, Medicine and Industrial School, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Karaj.)

Received: 2007-08-19 Accepted : 2009-05-23 Published : 2009-08-23

Keywords: alfalfa, Mycorrhizal symbiosis, Root traits, Medicago sativa L,

Abstract :

Study of rhizosphere is important in sustainable crop production. Mycorrhizal fungus are one of the most important microorganisms in rhizosphere, that has key function in sustainability of agroecosystems through symbiosis with plants root. In order to investigation the effect of different strains of  mycorrhizae on alfalfa root traits, a pot experiment with five treatments including Glomus mosseae, G. etanicatum, G. intraradices, combination of G. mosseae, Gigaspora hartigaand G. fasciculatum strains and a control at four replications was conducted in 2006. The roots were washed with tap water after harvesting of shoots. Root traits such as root dry matter, root length, mycorrhizal colonization based on grid line intersect method, total dry weight of mycorrhizal root and root length to root dry weight ratio were measured. Results of analysis of variance indicated that different strains had significant effect on colonization index, so that G. mosseae had the most amount of colonization. Different strains had significant differences in concentration of P, Zn and K in plants and G. mosseae had more uptake and translocation ability of P, Zn and K than others.

References:

1. Abbott, L. K., and Robson, A. D. 1979. A quantitative study on the spores and anatomy of mycorrhizas formed by a species of Glomus, with special reference to its taxonomy. Australian Journal of Botany 27:363-375.


2. Azcón, G., de Aguilar, C., Azcón, R., and Barea, J. M. 1979. Endomycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium as biological fertilisers for Medicago sativa in normal cuntivation. Nature 279: 325-236.


3. Berta, G., Fusconi, A., and Hooker, J. E. 2002. Arbuscular mycorrhizal modifications to plant root systems: Scale, mechanisms and cosequences. In: Gianhinazzi, S., Schuepp, H., Barea, J. M., Haselwandter, K. (Eds.): Mycorrhizal technology in agriculture. Birkauser Verlag, Basel, Boston, Berlin, pp. 71-85.


4. Bago, B., Pfeffer, P. E., and Shachar-Hill, Y. 2000. Carbon metabolism and                  transport in arbuscular mycorrhizas. Plant Physiology 124: 949-957.


5. Diope, T. A., Krasova-wade, T., Diallo, A., Diouf, M., and Gueye, M. 2003. Solanum cultivar responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: growth and mineral status. Africal Journal of  Biotechnology 2 (11): 429-433.


6. Giovannetti, M., and Mosse, B. 1980. An evaluation of technique to measure vesicular – arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in roots. New Phytologist 84:489-500.


7. Giovannetti, M., Sbrana, C., and Logi, C. 1994. Early processes involved in host recognition by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytology 127:703–9.


8. Giovannetti, M. L., Avio, C. Sbrana, C., and Citernetti, A. S. 1993. Factors affecting appressorium development in the vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe. New Phytologist 123: 115–22.


9. Khan, A. G. 2005. Mycorrhizas and phytoremediation. In: Willey, N. (ed.): method in biotechnology-phytoremediation: methods and reviews. Totowa, USA: Humana Press.

10.Klironomos, J. N. 2003. Variation in plant response to native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Ecology 84: 2292–2301.

11.Koide, R. T. 1991. Nutrient supply, nutrient demand and plant response to mycorrhizal infection. New Phytologist 117:365-386.

12.Ledig, F. T., Drew, A. P., and Clark, J. G. 1976. Maintenance and constructive respiration, photosynthesis, and net assimilation rate in seedlings of pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.). Annual Botany 4:289-300.

13.Liu, A., Hamel, C., Elmi, A., Costa, C., Ma, B., and Smith, D. L. 2002. Concentrations of K, Ca and Mg in maize colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under field conditions. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 82(3): 271- 278.

14.Mohammad, M. J., Pan, W. L., and Kennedy, A. C. 1991. Wheat responses to vesicular and arbusculsr mycorrhizal fungi inoculation of soil from eroded to posequence.  Journal of  American Society of Soil Science 59: 1086.

15.Mosse, B. 1973. Plant growth responses to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae. IV. In soil given additional phosphate. New Phytologist 72:127-136.

16.Norris, J. R., Read, D. J., and Varma, A. K. 1994. Thechniques for mycorrhizal research methods in microbiology. Academic Press, Limited. London.

17.Rousseau, J. V. D., and Reid, C. P. P. 1991. Effects of phosphorus fertilization and mycorrhizal development on phosphorus nutrition and carbon balance of loblolly pine. New Phytologist 117:319-326.

18.SAS Statistical Analysis Systems. 2002. The SAS System for Windows, Version 6.12. Statistical Analysis System Institute.

19.Smith, S. F. and Read, D. J. 1997. Mycorrhizal symbiosis. 2nd ed. Academic Press., Inc. U.S.A.

20.Swift, C. E. 2004. Mycorrhiza and soil phosphorus levels. Area Extension Agent. http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/TRA/PLANTS/mycorrhiza.

21.Tarafdar, J. C., and Marschner, H. 1994. Pytase activity in the rhizosphere on crops, trees and grsses under arid environment. Plant Soil 173:97.

22.Tennant, D. 1975. A test of a modified line intersects method estimating root length. Journal of Ecology 63: 995-1001.