Study of possibility of improving root growth of two lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cultivars using symbiosis Mycorrhiza and Azospirillum under Rainfed Condition

This study was conducted aiming to evaluate the possibility of improving the root growth of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) using Mycorrhiza symbiosis with cooperation Azospirillum bacteria under rain fed conditions. A tri-factorial experiment was conducted on the basis of Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications in Khalkhal area during 2012 cropping season. The experimental treatments were all combination of Mycorrhizal inoculums in three levels (not use, use Mycorrhiza Glomus intraradices and use Mycorrhiza Glomus mosseae), Azospirillum in two levels (not use and use Azospirillum brasilense) and Lentil cultivar with two levels (Mashhadi coarse grain cultivar and Naz fine seed cultivar).The results showed that the effect of Mycorrhiza on traits of root dry weight, root colonization and Mycorrhizal root dry weight were significant at the 1% probability level. The highest values for root dry weight, root colonization and Mycorrhizal root dry weight were recorded in plants which inoculated with G. mosseae. In addition, Azospirillum had a significant effect (p≤0.01) on root colonization, but effect of Lentil cultivars on all traits was not significant. The results showed that the interaction between Azospirillum and Lentil cultivars on root colonization at the 5% probability level and interaction between Mycorrhiza and Lentil cultivars on root colonization at 1% probability level were significant. Also, three-way interaction Azospirillum, Mycorrhiza and Lentil cultivars showed the root colonization trait at the 5% probability level were significant. The highest value for percentage of root colonization was recorded in treatment of use Azospirillum brasilense, use Mycorrhiza Glomus mosseae and Naz cultivar (46.19%).