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The effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations on growth of cereals

III. Effects on barley growth

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Summary

The growth of barley seedlings which were already mycorrhizal when planted in the field in soil deficient in phosphorus was much better than that of the non-mycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal plants removed more phosphorus from the soil and had greater dry matter. Yield was increased four fold by the fungus, but weight of individual grain was not affected. Differences between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal barley plants were almost eliminated by the application of phosphate fertilizer indicating that the fungus does not enhance barley growth in soils containing enough available phosphate. It seems that the mycorrhizal effect is primarily to improve the supply of phosphate. Endogone spore number, mycorrhizal development, root infection and increased growth showed positive correletion with each other. The extent of root infection was greatest in mycorrhizal plants in soil not supplemented with phosphate and it decreased in inoculated plants in the plot supplemented with super phosphate. Number of tillers and ears per plant was more than double in mycorrhizal plants as compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. re]19751006

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    S. R. Saif & A. G. Khan

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  1. S. R. Saif
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  2. A. G. Khan
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Saif, S.R., Khan, A.G. The effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations on growth of cereals. Plant Soil 47, 17–26 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010364

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010364

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