Early Growth Assessment of Treculia africana Seedlings Influenced by Different Light Intensities and Mycorrhizal Inoculation

Abstract

Light is essential for plant growth. The rate at which a plant grows depends on the light it receives. This study was carried out to observe the growth of Treculia africana seedlings under different light intensities (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) and mycorrhiza inoculation (Ectomycorrhiza, Endomycorrhiza, and topsoil {control}) with five replicates in each treatment. The experiment was laid out in a 3 × 4 factorial in CRD, and data were collected fortnightly for twelve (12) weeks. Data were subjected to analysis of variance in SAS, and the significant mean was separated using Fisher's LSD. The result showed that the seedlings inoculated with ectomycorrhizal had the highest plant height (15.08), leaf area (26.90), number of leaves (5.75), collar diameter (2.61), fresh shoot weight (3.86), root weight (3.86), fresh weight (7.44), dry root weight (1.53), dry weight (2.87), absolute growth rate (0.34) and relative growth rate (0.39) which was significantly different from other treatment. Seedlings exposed to 75% and 25% light intensity had the highest performances compared to seedlings exposed to different light intensities. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the seedlings' physiological variables assessed under the interaction of different light intensities and mycorrhiza inoculation. The seedlings inoculated with ectomycorrhizal and raised in 25% light intensity had the overall highest performance in all the growth variables assessed. Therefore, this study recommends raising Treculia africana seedlings with the inoculation of ectomycorrhizal and under shade to enhance early growth and massive nursery production.