Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungus on the Nutrient Uptake and Growth of Beach Plum (Prunus Maritima) Seedlings under NaCl Stress

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the effects of inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae, and/or a phosphate-solubilising fungus (PSF), Mortierella sp. SM-1, on the nutrient uptake and growth of beach plum (Prunus maritima) when grown under 1% (w/v) NaCl stress. High concentration of NaCl (200 mMol) treatments adversely inhibited colonizations and spore densities by AMF or/and PSF, as well as the nutrient uptake of N, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn nutrient acquisition, resulting in an important reduction in shoot and root dry biomass. Plants inoculated with AMF or/and PSF strongly promoted AM colonization and spore density, plant dry biomass and nutrient uptake by P. maritima. Dual inoculation of AMF and PSF showed significant higher effects on variation of the ion concentration (N, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) and plant growth indexes. It is concluded that AMF inoculation with PSF application could synergistically enhance the nutrient uptake and growth of plants.