Growth and mineral nutrition of banana seedlings cv. Grand Naine inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the influence of AMF on the levels of macro- and micronutrients and growth of micropropagated banana seedlings submitted to doses of P. The experiment was arranged in randomized blocks, in a 5 x 5 factorial design, with the factors consisting of inoculation with AMF (G.clarum, G. margarita, G. albida, C. etunicatum, and the control treatment, without AMF) and doses of P (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg kg-1). The association of different species of AMF can favor the growth of banana seedlings, providing better nutrition. The application of doses of P increased the growth of micropropagated banana seedlings regardless of inoculation with AMF. Seedling production associated with G. margarita can favor the growth of plants submitted to low doses of P applied to the soil. The interaction between G. clarum and the seedling production of Musa spp. did not seem to favor plant growth. Mycorrhizal colonization together with phosphate fertilization contributed to the quality of banana seedlings. The inoculation with C. etunicatum favored the increase of K contents in the plant shoot. The increase in the doses of P decreased the levels of N and S for all treatments, causing a decrease in the leaf contents of Mn, B, and Fe. The doses of P did not interfere in the leaf contents of Cu and Zn. The AMF favored the levels of Cu, Zn, Mn, and B in banana leaves and favored the increases of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn contents in banana seedlings, varying according with the doses of P.