Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on water stress tolerance of tissue cultured banana (Musa × paradisiaca) plants

Abstract

Study showed that mycorrhizal inoculation during the hardening phase of banana plantlets raised through tissue culture was highly beneficial and a good strategy for sustainable plant production and protection. The mycorrhizal inoculation not only improved the survival rates but also imparted increased biomass as compared to the non-treated plantlets under water stress. The physiological changes in the leaves of mycorrhized plantlets revealed a significant increase in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and relative water content under water stress which contributed to higher survival as compared to non-mycorrhized plantlets. Though, the banana plantlets responded to all mycorrhizal treatments but those treated with mixed AMF strains showed significantly better growth and physiological adjustments under water stress.