Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (Glomus mosseae) on the uptake and distribution of elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, Cu and Zn) in Pistachio seedlings ‘Sarakhs’, ‘Abareghi’ and ‘Bane Baqi’ (P. eurycarpa × P. mutica) in salinity conditions

This study was planed to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (G. mosseae) symbiosis and three pistachio rootstocks of ‘Sarakhs’, ‘Abareqi’ and ‘Bane Baqi’ on elements uptake and distribution under salt stress. A greenhouse experiment was conducted as factorial with three factors of mycorrhizae by two levels (with or without mycorrhizae), saltiness of irrigation water by four levels (EC of 0.5, 5 10 and 15 dS.m-1) and rootstock by three levels (Sarakhs, Abareghi and Bane Baqi). Different levels of salt stress caused reduction in mycorrhizal colonization as well as elements uptake in all rootstocks while Na+ and Cl- accumulation in shoot and roots were increased as the effect of salt stress intensity. Elements distribution was affected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as their accumulation (P, K, Na, Cl) were lower in roots than shoot. Mycorrhizal plants had higher concentrations of P, K, Ca and Zn and lower of Na and Cl in comparison to non-mycorrhizal plants. Symbiosis relations of pistachio rootstocks with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus led to increase salt stress resistance, which can be attributed, at least partially, to improve uptake of some low mobile elements like P and Zn and better osmosis regulation. Bane Baqi had lower content of Na and Cl in shoot and roots in comparison with two other which can be reason for its more resistance to salt stress.