Field application of mycorrhizal bio-inoculants affects the mineral uptake of a forage legume (Hedysarum coronarium L.) on a highly calcareous soil

Abstract

The efficiency of two mycorrhizal bio-inoculants on the mineral uptake during the growth stages of a Mediterranean forage legume sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) was studied in the field on a highly calcareous soil. The first inoculum (Mm) was made up of a mixture of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from calcareous soils: Septoglomus constrictum, Funneliformis geosporum, Glomus fuegianum, Rhizophagus irregularis and Glomus sp. The second was a commercial inoculum (Mi) containing one AMF species: R. irregularis. Both mycorrhizal inoculants increased total and arbuscular colonization of sulla roots. Inoculation with Mm showed a positive effect on sulla shoot dry weight (SDW) when compared to Mi and non-inoculated plants (control). Mineral contents (P, Mg, Mn, Fe) were higher in the shoots of sulla plants cultivated on mycorrhiza-inoculated plots compared to non-inoculated ones. This enhancement was observed during the flowering stage for P, Mg and Mn and during the rosette stage for Fe. An increase in P content of 50 % in plants inoculated with Mm compared to non-inoculated ones may be explained by the induction of root alkaline and acid phosphatase activities. Higher efficiency of native AMF species adapted to calcareous soils opens the way towards the development of mycorrhiza bio-fertilizers targeted to improve sustainable fertilization management in such soils.

Effect of Phosphorus Application and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on the Growth of American Jointvetch and Greenleaf Desmodium

“…In the second analysis, AM inoculation promoted the growth and root nodulation of both Aj and Gd. And, AM inoculation promoted the uptake of N and P of the plant (Clark and Zeto, 2000;Vázquez et al, 2002;Chalk et al, 2006;Labidi et al, 2015). The results of this study corroborate those of previous reports that indicated the promotion of plant growth and nutrient uptake by AM inoculation.…”

“…Japanese soils such as andosols are highly porous parent material of volcanic ash, have a high phosphate-fixation capacity and tend to be low in available P (Nagatsuka, 1997;ISRIC-World Soil Information, 2017). Legumes are known to have high P demands because this nutrient plays key roles in root nodulation and nitrogen fixation (Graham and Carroll, 2003;Labidi et al, 2015).…”

“…In plants, it occurs in proteins, nucleic acids, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), lipids, esters and enzymes and is involved in stored energy utilization, root formation and nutrient supply (particularly nitrogen and sulfur) (Whitehead, 2000;Barker and Collins, 2003;Snyder and Leep, 2007). It also plays key roles in legume root nodulation and nitrogen fixation (Graham and Carroll, 2003;Labidi et al, 2015). Generally, forage plants respond to phosphorus fertilization, which increases yields of Dry Matter (DM), crude protein, digestible DM and total digestible nutrients (Whitehead, 2000;Snyder and Leep, 2007).…”

Insect antagonistic bio-inoculants for natural control of leaf-mining insect pests of French beans

“…The ability of beneficial fungal microbes to enhance plant growth has been reported in beans (El-bab et al, 2013;Labidi et al, 2015) and other crops (Vila-Aiub et al, 2005;Vinale et al, 2008;Paparu et al, 2009). Under field conditions, for example, El-bab et al (2013) showed that coating green pinto bean seeds with either Trichoderma harzianum or T. viride enhanced seedling emergence.…”

“…Recently, microbially based bio-inoculants, including mycorrhiza and endophytic bacteria or fungi, have been tested and found to be effective in abating some biotic and abiotic constraints to crop production (Begum et al, 2010;Pill et al, 2011;Labidi et al, 2015). Bio-priming is a process by which seeds or seedlings are hydrated in a spore suspension of beneficial biological organisms.…”