The Influence of Mycorrhizal Species on Sour Orange (Citrus Aurantium L.) Growth Under Saline Soil Conditions

Abstract

A two-staged experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of indigenous and predefined mycorrhizae inoculation on sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) growth under saline soil conditions. In first stage, indigenous mycorrhizae that existed in the rhizosphere of Mediterranean halophytic plants propagated by using a trap culture method. Trifolium sp. was used as the host plant. In the second stage, the effects of propagated indigenous mycorrhizae and predefined morphological species (Glomus clarum, G. caledonium and G. mosseae) on citrus plant growth were evaluated with high levels of salt (2000 mu mhos/cm NaCl) under greenhouse conditions. These species are produced in the method of grafting on a regular basis exists Cukurova University. Andesitic tuff: soil: compost (6:3:1) mixture were used as growth media. Shoot and root dry matter, root infections, spore production, and concentrations of N, P, K, Zn, Mn and Cu in plant tissues were analyzed. The results demonstrated that indigenous mycorrhizae, especially spores extracted from the rhizospheres of Euphorbia paralias and Ambrosia maritima, had a significant effect on citrus growth and nutrient uptake. Citrus plants inoculated with G. clarum and G. caledonium grew more efficiently than those inoculated with G. mosseae.