Investigation of Mycorrhizal Symbiosis of oak trees (Quertcus sp.) in the Northern Forests of Iran

Due to the special position of mycorrhizal fungi in improving the physiological status of host plants and increasing their resistance to environmental stresses, this study was conducted to explain the mycorrhizal symbiosis of oak trees in northern forest of Iran and their biological effects on Q. castaneifolia. In order to identify mycorrhizal fungi associated with oak trees, mycorrhizal root tips of hosts were collected and then the fungal ITS regions were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences was performed by Bayesian method. A total of 217 root systems were collected from the studied habitats and 49 taxa from ectomycorrhizal fungi (13 genera) and 4 taxa of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( Acaulospora and Glomus) were identified among them. the symbiosis of Q. castaneifolia plantlets with Glomus mosseae and Hebeloma sinapizans were performed. Measurement of physiological characteristics, growth and water status of the inoculated plant in comparison with the control plant showed that the development of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on oak plantlets significantly increased stem biomass, leaf biomass, leaf area and chlorophyll and also improved seedlings water content; However, there was no evidence of a significant positive effect of inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Q. castaneifolia plantlets. Therefore, considering the improvement of water status, increase of growth and biomass and modification of physiological characteristics of the plant inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungus, establishing this symbiosis can be introduced as a more appropriate approach to increase the success of planting in Q. castaneifolia forests restoration programs.