Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Melon (Cucumis Melo L.) Seedling Under Deficit Irrigation

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important vegetable and is growth in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey since the early times. Drought is effective abiotic stress factors for plants. As is known that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have positive effects on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis can play a prominent role in tolerance to abiotic stress factors. Plant material used in this study is cv. Napolyon F-i cultivated commonly in the Lake Van Basin. The effects of two different mycorrhiza applications (Glomus intraradices and Glomus spp.) on some growth parameters in melon seedlings under water deficit were investigated. There were four different water deficit applications (control, 20 %, 40 % and 60 % water deficit). At the end, it was found that mycorrhiza improved the physiological and photosynthetic parameters of inoculated plants compared with non-AMF plants in water deficit conditions. Moreover, AM Fungi increased the chlorophyll content of melon seedlings. Results indicated that AMF can ameliorate the tolerance to deficit irrigation in melon seedlings.