Evaluation of the Symbiotic Effect of Mycorrhiza Arbuscular on Some Pistachio Rootstocks under Salinity and ‎Drought Conditions

The present experiment has compared the resistance of different mycorrhizal pistachio rootstocks to salinity and drought stress in a completely randomized design with three replications. It has used Funneliformis mosseae and four pistachio species, Badami-e Riz Zarand, Qazvini, Sarakhs, and UCB1. In addition, the experiment of water stress in 4 levels (100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% FC), and experiment of salinity stress in 4 levels (0.91, 7.57, 16.12, and 24.63 dSm-1), have been applied for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, different characteristics such as total biomass, leaf area, tissue moisture percentage, and electrolyte leakage have been measured. Also, during the experiment, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanin pigments have been surveyed and analyzed. The results indicate that mycorrhizal symbiosis has improved total biomass and leaf moisture content under both drought and salinity stress conditions, wherein tissue moisture content and total leaf chlorophyll content have decreased and anthocyanin content and electrolyte leakage increased. As for the lowest leaf, stem and root moisture content have been observed at the highest drought and salinity levels with UCB1 having the highest biomass and moisture under salinity stress and the highest leaf and stem moisture content and lowest electrolyte leakage are observed in Sarakhs rootstock under drought stress. It seems UCB1 and Sarakhs symbiotic with mycorrhiza can be useful for salinity and drought stress, respectively.