Abstract:
The study was performed to test the effects of isolates local mycorrhizal fungi
from date palm, alfalfa and sugarcane plants on sorghum and zea maize plants
growth traits (plant height, top dry weight, root dry weight, color rating, root
colonization and tissue content of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus). Also,
the effects local and alien strains of Rhizobium, and isolated local mycorrhiza
(VAM) on groundnut plant growth traits were studied.
The use of VAM enhanced growth and development of sorghum and maize
plants. VAM isolated from date palm enhanced the performance of sorghum
and maize plants in the greenhouse and maize plants in the field and improved
all traits tested over the uninoculated plants and controls.
The best colonization was observed in plant root infected with mycorrhiza
isolated from date palm, followed by mycorrhiza isolated from alfalfa. Both
treatments were better than other mycorrhizal treatments. Also the results
indicated a significant increase in spores density. The highest spore’s density
was reported with date palm mycorrhizal inoculums. High spores density in the
soil lead to an increase in root infection. It was apparent from these findings
that the mycorrhiza isolated from date palm is superior in improving the
measured growth traits. In addition, sorghum and maize plants inoculated with
AM significantly increased the shoot phosphorus content.
AM fungi and Rhizobium positively affected groundnuts plant growth traits and
nutrient uptake both in the greenhouse and the field. The performance of the
AMF alone or in combinations with Rhizobium strains was significantly better
than that of the bacteria alone in terms of plant height, top dry weight and root
dry weight.
