Symbiosis relationship between some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Salsola laricina and its effect on improving plant growth parameters

The aim of this study was to examine the symbiosis relationshipbetween some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Salsola laricina (Chenopodiaceae), a non-mycotrophic plant speciesand its effect on improving plant growth parameters. Initially, the development of AMF density was monitored through two parameters including evaluation of mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots and density measurement in the soil under field conditions. Then, the spores were counted and the highest four morphotypes were isolated for morphological identification and preparation of inoculum to culture. The seeds of S. laricana were planted inside pots under greenhouse conditions and were inoculated by four isolates of AMF including Archaeospora schenckii, Glomus deserticola, Scutellospora erythropa, and Septoglomus constrictum and one treatment remained non-inoculated as control. High root colonization of the plants was found at six months after inoculation (46%) where the highest morphotypes density belonged to S. constrictum (No./20 g soil-1), suggesting the importance of AMF for plant growth efficiency. The AMF symbiosis generally improved the growth related to the height and weight of shoot and root of S. laricana that were significantly increased. The results led to the conclusion that, identification of interactions between plants, soil properties, and AMF colonization can contribute to improve management of ecosystems.