Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and intercropping with bahiagrass on growth and anti-oxidative enzyme activity of radish

Abstract

Effects of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge.) intercropping and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Gigaspora margarita Becker and Hall, on the growth and activities of anti-oxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) in radish (Raphanus sativus L. 'Midoribijin'), a non-host plant, was studied. Radish was grown with and without bahiagrass in a root box system divided into 5 compartments which allows AMF hyphae, but not roots, to enter between compartments. Pots without AMF inoculation were prepared as a control. G. margarita by itself had no significant effect on radish growth. Radish roots were colonized by G. margarita only when intercropped with bahiagrass; however, no arbuscule was observed and a lot of new spores were found on the radish root. Protein contents of radish roots were increased, but the plant biomass of radish, and the activities of SOD and CAT of roots were significantly decreased by AMF root colonization. These results suggest that the unavoidable invasion of hyphae into non-host plant roots due to intercropping with host plants, such as bahiagrass, that strongly promote AMF growth would result in the decline of non-host plants. JSHS © 2007.