Wheat- Root System Influenced by Application of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi under Different Levels of Phosphorous Chemical Fertilizer

Plant root system has an important role in crop production.It is well known that roots assist as an anchor to the plant and water and nutrients absorption which are necessary for plant survival and growth. In order to evaluate the effect of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi under different levels of phosphorous chemical fertilizer application, an experiment was carried out in factorial arrangement using a completely randomized design with three replications at Agricultural Research Station of Ilam University in 2015. Experimental factors consisted of two dry land wheat cultivars (Keras Sablan and (Saji) and chemical and biological fertilizers (1- without application of phosphorous, 2-100% phosphorous chemical fertilizer, 3- pseudomonas putida (strain 168), 4- Funeliformis mosseae, 5- P. putida + F. mosseae, 6- P. putida + F. mosseae + 50% of phosphorous chemical fertilizer, 7- P. putida + 50% of phosphorous chemical fertilizer and 8- F. mosseae + 50% of phosphorous chemical fertilizer). Results showed that fertilizer sources had significant and positive effect on root system in wheat cultivars and seminal roots number, nodal roots number, sub-nodal number, seminal roots length, nodal roots length and sub-nodal roots length, root length density, root specific density, root volume density and root area density increased significantly. Maximum root number and root length (13.3 and 397.2 cm), root length density (0.75 cm root/cm-3soil), root area (150.3 cm-2), root volume density (0.010 g root fresh weight) and root area density (166.7 cm-2/g) observed in Saji cultivar ×F. mosseae +50 % of phosphorous fertilizer treatment but the minimum root system characteristics detected in Keras Sablan cultivar× control treatment.