TITLE:
Functional Diversity of Mycorrhizal Fungi Has Differential Effects on Salinity Tolerance of Acacia seyal (Del.) Seedlings
AUTHORS:
Anicet Manga, Aliou Diop, Tahir A. Diop
KEYWORDS:
Arbuscular Fungi, Salt Stress, Symbiotic Efficiency, Acacia seyal, Leguminous Tree, Functional Diversity
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.7 No.11,
November
15,
2017
ABSTRACT: Acacia seyal is a leguminous plant that plays an important role in the ecosystem of Sahelian
zone by producing gum, wood and fodder. The growth of A. seyal is subject to many constraints as salinity which can
affect the development of this tree. Therefore, soil microorganisms can help A. seyal to better tolerate the effects
of negative environmental stresses. The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi (AMF) to the salt tolerance of A.
seyal, was evaluated by testing the effects of eight different arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolates in the performance of A. seyal seedlings subjected to different levels of salinity (0,
340 and 680 mM). The results based on growth parameters of shoot and root
parts, shoot mineral N, P, K and Na content as well as survival rates and mycorrhization
showed that AMF improved mineral nutrition of A. seyal seedlings during salt stress. The combination between AMF
and salinity provided evidence that the efficiency of AMF isolates were
variable in improving mineral nutrition and mortality rate for A. seyal seedlings related to the level
of salt stress. However, the effects of inoculation were variable depending to
the AMF isolate associated with seedlings and the level of salinity, suggesting
that interactions between plants and AMF can be modulated by both AMF diversity
and the type and level of abiotic factors. Rhizophagus
intraradices was more efficient at 680 mM NaCl in plant growth and mineral
uptake while Glomus deserticola did
not promote a better plant development than most of the other species
inoculated to seedlings.