Identification and inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis to Caucasian hackberry (Celtis Caucasica L.) under greenhouse conditions

Motivated by the general necessity of reforestation in the Zagros forest using native species under limited water resources, this study was conducted on the production of mycorrhizal inoculated-seedlings of Caucasian hackberry (Celtis Caucasica L). Seed samples and rhizosphere were selected from a site in the Chahartagh Ardal of the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Two species of mycorrhizal fungi, namely Funneliformis geosporum andClaroideoglomus etunicatum, showed high frequencies in the rhizosphere of C. Caucasica sites. Following isolation by wet sieve method, identification was done according to morphological properties such as spore size and color, spore-attached ridge, and spore cell wall layers, which led to their first-ever description from rhizospheres of C. caucasica in Iran. Next step was to use trap culture method for culturing spores of mycorrhizal fungus in the greenhouse. After propagation of the species, they were inoculated with C. Caucasica seeds. Growth characteristics and root colonization of the seedlings were then assessed during a period of 6 months. The results demonstrated a significant and positive effect of the mycorrhizal fungi on all traits. For most of the measured traits, the highest value was observed in the combined fungus treatment. Therefore, mychorrhizal seedlings were concluded to be advantageous compared with control seedlings. In addition, the use of mychorrhizal seedlings is concluded as a suitable and cost-effective solution to increase the success rates of afforestation as well as the restoration of degraded areas.