Study of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Diversity and Its Effect on Growth and Development of Leek Plants (Allium porrum L.)

Abstract

The effect of a composite endomycorrhizal inoculum, native to the rhizosphere of the olive tree, was studied on the growth of leek plants (Allium porrum L.). Inoculation of leek plants was carried out by contacting the root system of leeks with the inoculum endomycorrhizal derived from the olive tree rhizosphere. After five months of inoculation, a significant effect is observed on the growth of the inoculated plants according to witnesses. Indeed, the average values of the aerial weight (11.62 g) and root weight (18.52 g), the diameter (0.5 cm) and the number of leaves (7) of the inoculated plants are higher than those noted in the control plants, respectively 4.42 g, 7.95 g, 0.3 cm, 5.57. Moreover, the frequency and intensity of mycorrhization, respectively 96.66% and 50.33%, the arbuscules contents (44.33%) and vesicles (32.44%) are very important. The roots of control plants are not mycorrhizal. The average number of spores formed in the rhizosphere of the inoculated plants is 160 spores per 100 g of soil. These spores are those of 85 endomycorrhizal species belonging to 16 different genera: Glomus (34 species), Acaulospora (18 species), Gigaspora (5 species), Entrophospora (3 species), Scutellospora (5 species), Pacispora (2 species), Claroideoglomus (2 species), Dentiscutata (1 species), Septoglomus (1 species), Paraglomus (2 species), Rhizoglomus (2 species), Ambispora (3 species), Cetraspora (1 species), Funneliformis (1 species), Diversispora (4 species) and Viscospora (1 species). Statistical analyzes were performed by analysis of variance by the ANOVA test at the 5% level using the STATISTICA software. Leek, is a mycotrophic plant that can be used to multiply an endomycorrhizal inoculum suitable for use in nurseries, and to produce seedlings of different plant species that are vigorous and resistant to pathogens and water stress after transplantation.