Evaluation of effect of inoculum endo-mycorrhiza fungi on plant pigments and vegetative indices in safflower under salt stress

Salinity is a major abiotic factor that limits growth and yields of most plant. It has been known that endo-mycorrhiza fungi are able to reduce this restriction on some plants in saline conditions. In this study، effects of two two species of mycorrhiza fungi Glomus mosseae and G. intraradices inoculation were examined on NaCl salt tolerance (0. 5 as control، 6 and 12 dSm-1) in two safflower cultivars (Goldasht and Padide cultivars). Four days old safflower seedlings were grown in pots containing a mixture of perlite and coco peat، and mycorrhizal inoculum (50 spores per gram of mixture) for two months in controlled conditions. The experiment was conducted as factorial based on completly randomized design with three replications. Results showed that salinity reduced plant height، root length، dry weight of stem، leaf and roots and plant pigments contents، which indicated damages due to salt stress. Plant height، root length، dry weight of stem، leaf and roots and plant pigments contents were higher in the inoculated plants than non-inoculated those. Under control conditions، the best vegetative growth was observed in Goldasht cultivar inoculated with Glomus intraradices; while under 6 dS m-1 conditions، the best performance was obtained in Padide inoculated with Glomusmosseae. However، at 12 dS m-1 treatments use of both funkgi species had similar and positive effect on vegetative growth. Generally، it can be concluded that the inoculation of safflower with mycorrhiza fungi would mitigate the negative effects of salinity on plant growth.