Abstract:

Three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) isolates were used to inoculate Chukrasia tabularis seedlings of five provenances to investigate the effect of three AM isolates on C. tabularis seedling growth. The results showed that: the mycorrhizal colonization rate was 96.3%, belonging to classification class 5 and with intermediate dependency. There was significant association between mycorrhizal isolate 90068 and provenance CH01. The most significant seedling growth was achieved in provenance CH01 colonized with mycorrhizal isolate 90068 in 5-6 months. Mycorrhizal association between isolate 90068 and provenance CH13 significantly resulted in P uptake more than all other colonization combination. Isolate 9004 produced better mycorrhizal colonization, greater seedling biomass and height than isolate 90036 did, while, isolate 90036 resulted in a better nutrient uptake. Based on these results, isolate 90068 was selected as optimum AM isolate for seedlings of the five provenances.

Key words: Chukrasia tabularis, AM fungi, nutrient uptake, growth improvement