Effect of endomycorrhizal inoculation on the young cork oak plants (Quercus suber) growth

Abstract

Inoculation with endomycorrhizae had a significant effect on the cork oak (Quercus suber) seedlings growth. The average length (55.37 cm) and weight (12.6 g) of the aerial part, the length (41 cm) and weight (26.41 g) of the root system, the rod diameter (0.56 cm) and the leaves number (120) of the plants inoculated with mycorrhizae AM were higher than those of control, respectively, 41.75 cm; 10.1 g; 28.5 cm; 16.75 g; 0.53 cm; 112.75. Frequency (90%) and intensity (71%) of mycorrhization were higher at the root levels of plants inoculated with endomycorrhizae than those of control plants that did not show any mycorrhization. However, the study of morphological spores criteria of AM fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of plants inoculated with endomycorrhizae made it possible to identify 18 different species (9 species belong to Glomus genus, 4 belong to Acaulospora genus, 2 belong to Scutellospora genus and one to Gigaspora genus, Diversispora genus and Redeckera genus).