Nutrient uptake-modification of different plant species in mediterranean climate by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

Soil fertility in the semi-arid Mediterranean region is poor and mycorrhizal inoculation could be an important agricultural strategy for reducing fertilizer use and also increase the food quality. To evaluate the substantial reliance of selective horticultural crops on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, a field experiment was conducted in the Mediterranean coastal region of Turkey. Under field conditions, pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum at two levels of P2O5. Yield enhancement, inoculation effectiveness and nutrient concentration in the plants were assessed. Root colonization significantly improved in mycorrhizal inoculated plants by 51–80% irrespective of P2O5 application. Similarly, significant impact of P2O5 and AM fungi was found for pepper and eggplant yield increase as 8–35% and 6–44% respectively. Phosphorus percentage in plant tissues was significantly different in tomato plant (0.22–0.30%) and AM fungi increased its concentration also in other crops. AM fungi application strongly influenced nutrients concentration and improved the plant quality in all studied crops against control. Under field conditions, AM fungi with P2O5 application is best responding for yield enhancement and nutrient uptake leading to a quality food. Therefore, plant growth and nutrient uptake is strongly dependent on AM fungi inoculation moreover to reinstate soil quality. Our results suggested that application of mycorrhizal fungi in plant growth improvement is inevitable under Mediterranean climate.