Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and yield of lentil and wheat inoculated with three Glomus isolates from Saskatchewan soils

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycorrhiza Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) Glomus clarum (Nicol. and Schenck) isolate NT4, G. mosseae (Nicol. and Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe isolate NT6 and G. versiforme (Karst.) Berch isolate NT7 coexist in wheat field soils in Saskatchewan. This study assessed the response of lentil (Lens esculenta L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to monospecific and mixed cultures of these VAMF isolates. Seedlings were inoculated with 100 spores of a VAMF isolate, or an equal mixture of spores of two isolates, and grown in a sterile soil mix in a growth chamber. Both crops responded differently to these different VAMF isolates. In the case of lentil, G. clarum NT4 was more effective than G. mosseae NT6 and G. versiforme NT7, and significantly increased (P<0.05) the shoot dry weight (43%) and grain yield (57%) compared with the uninoculated control. There was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of VAMF colonized roots and shoot dry weight (r=0.672***) and shoot phosphorus concentration (r=0.608***) of lentil. In the case of wheat, G. clarum NT4 had no effect on shoot dry weight, but produced significant (P<0.08) increases in grain yield (12%) and the phosphorus concentration of the shoot and grain. Although G. clarum NT4 and G. mosseae NT6 both produced similar levels of VAM colonization in wheat, the only response of wheat to isolate NT6 was an increase in plant height at harvest. The efficacy of G. clarum NT4 on both crops appeared to be related to its ability to produce more arbuscular colonization than G. mosseae NT6. Dual inoculation of seedlings with G. clarum NT4 and G. mosseae NT6 resulted in competition between these two isolates. This was evident from a comparison of plant shoot dry weight and grain yield, and VAMF spore production on the two crops inoculated either with isolate NT4 alone or in combination with NT6. G. mosseae NT6 reduced the efficacy of G. clarum NT4 by 16% when dual inoculated on lentil, but had no effect when the host was wheat. Based on spore production, it was found that G. clarum NT4 was more competitive than G. mosseae NT6 when dual inoculated on lentil or wheat. Isolate NT4 produced ca. 2000 and 500 spores/ 100 g substrate, respectively, in the lentil and wheat pots, which was approximately 2–3 times more spores than those produced by isolate NT6 with either crop. When the plants were dual inoculated, there was a 15–19% reduction in spore production by G. clarum NT4 and a 50–70% decrease in spore production by G. mosseae NT6. Our results show that G. clarum NT4 was more competitive and effective in its ability to colonize and increase the growth and yield of lentil and wheat than G. mosseae NT6 or G. versiforme NT7. The relative performance of isolate NT4 with different host plants suggests that this VAMF isolate exhibits a host preference for lentil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott LK, Robson AD (1978) Growth of subterranean clover in relation to the formation of endomycorrhizas by introduced and indigenous fungi in a field soil. New Phytol 81:575–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott LK, Robson AD (1981) Infectivity and effectiveness of five endomycorrhizal fungi: competition with indigenous fungi in field soils. Aust J Agric Res 32:621–630

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott LK, Robson AD (1984) Colonization of the root system of subterranean clover by three species of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 96:275–281

    Google Scholar 

  • An Z-Q, Grove JH, Hendrix JW, Hershman DE, Henson GT (1990) Vertical distribution of endogonaceous mycorrhizal fungi associated with soybean, as affected by soil fumigation. Soil Biol Biochem 22:715–719

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethlenfalvay GJ, Ulrich JM, Brown MS (1982) Plant response to mycorrhizal fungi: host, endophyte, and soil effects. Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:1164–1168

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethlenfalvay GJ, Bayne HG, Pacovsky RS (1983) Parasitic and mutualistic associations between a mycorrhizal fungus and soybean: the effect of phosphorus on host-plant-endophyte interactions. Plant Physiol 57:543–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Carling DE, Brown MF (1980) Relative effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and yield of soybeans. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:528–532

    Google Scholar 

  • CoHort Software (1991) CoPlot: scientific graphics software, version 2.02. Cottort Software, Berkeley, Calif

    Google Scholar 

  • Daft MJ, Hogarth BG (1983) Competitive interactions amongst four species of Glomus on maize and onion. Trans Br Mycol Soc 80:339–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniels BA, Skipper HD (1982) Methods for the recovery and quantitative estimation of propagules from soil. In: Schenck NC (ed) Principles and methods of mycorrhizal research. American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, Minn, pp 29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhillon SS (1992) Host-endophyte specificity of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Oryza sativa L. at the pretransplant stage in low or high phosphorus soil. Soil Biol Biochem 24:405–411

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerdemann JW, Nicolson TH (1963) Spores of mycorrhizal Endogone species extracted from soil by wet sieving and decanting. Trans Br Mycol Soc 46:235–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovannetti M, Mosse B (1980) An evaluation of techniques for measuring vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in roots. New Phytol 84:489–500

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham JH, Linderman RG, Menge JA (1982) Development of external hyphae by different isolates of mycorrhizal Glomus spp. in relation to root colonization and growth of troyer citrange. New Phytol 91:183–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas JH, Krikun J (1985) Efficacy of endomycorrhizal-fungus isolates and inoculum quantities required for growth response. New Phytol 100:613–621

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall IR (1977) Species and mycorrhizal infections of New Zealand Endogonaceae. Trans Br Mycol Soc 68:341–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayman DS, Tavares M (1985) Plant growth responses to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. XV. Influence of soil pH on the symbiotic efficiency of different endophytes. New Phytol 100:367–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Hung LL, Sylvia DM, O'Keefe DM (1990) Isolate selection and phosphorus interaction of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in biomass crops. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:762–768

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakobsen I, Abbott LK, Robson AD (1992) External hyphae of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Trifolium subterraneum L. I. Spread of hyphae and phosphorus inflow into roots. New Phytol 120:371–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen A (1982) Influence of four vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on nutrient uptake and growth in barley (Hordeum vulgare). New Phytol 90:45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Koide R (1985) The nature of growth depressions in sunflower caused by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection. New Phytol 99:449–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Koomen I, Grace C, Hayman DS (1987) Effectiveness of single and multiple mycorrhizal inocula on growth of clover and strawberry plants at two soil pHs. Soil Biol Biochem 19:539–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Koske RE, Gemma JN (1989) A modified procedure for staining roots to detect VA mycorrhizas. Mycol Res 92:486–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay WL, Norwell WA (1978) Development of a DTPA soil test for iron, manganese, copper, and zinc. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42:421–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Louis I, Lim G (1988) Differential response in growth and mycorrhizal colonization of soybean to inoculation with two isolates of Glomus clarum in soils of different P availability. Plant Soil 112:37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • McGonigle TP, Fitter AH (1990) Ecological specificity of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal associations. Mycol Res 94:120–122

    Google Scholar 

  • McGonigle TP, Miller MH, Evans DG, Fairchild GL, Swan JA (1990) A new method which gives an objective measure of colonization of roots by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 115:495–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina OA, Sylvia DM, Kretschmer AE Jr (1988) Response of Siratro to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. II. Efficacy of selected vesicular-arbuscular fungi at different phosphorus levels. Soil Sci Soc Am J 52:420–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Menge JA, Timmer LW (1982) Procedures for inoculation of plants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in the laboratory, greenhouse and field. In: Schenck NC (ed) Principles and methods of mycorrhizal research. American Phytopathological Society, St Paul, Minn, pp 56–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosse B (1972) Effect of different Endogone strains on growth of Paspalum notatum. Nature 239:221–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS, Dean LA (1954) Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. US Department of Agriculture, Circulation 939

  • Powell CL (1982) Selection of efficient VA mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Soil 68:3–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders IR, Fitter AH (1992) The ecology and functioning of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas in co-existing grassland species. I. Seasonal patterns of mycorrhizal occurrence and morphology. New Phytol 122:517–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders FE, Tinker PB, Black RLB, Palmerley SM (1977) The development of endomycorrhizal root systems. I. Spread of infection and growth-promoting effects with four species of vesicular-arbuscular endophytes. New Phytol 78:257–268

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc (1990) SAS procedures guide, version 6, 3rd edn. Cary, NC

  • Schenck NC, Smith GS (1981) Distribution and occurrence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on Florida agricultural crops. Soil Crop Sci Soc Fla Proc 40:171–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Schubert A, Hayman DS (1986) Plant growth responses to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. XVI. Effectiveness of different endophytes at different levels of soil phosphate. New Phytol 103:79–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Talukdar NC, Germida JJ (1993a) Occurrence and isolation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in cropped field soils of Saskatchewan, Canada. Can J Microbiol 39:567–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Talukdar NC, Germida JJ (1993b) Propagation and storage of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from Saskatchewan agricultural soils. Can J Bot 71:1328–1335

    Google Scholar 

  • Technicon Industrial Systems (1973) Orthophosphate in water and wastewater. (Industrial method no 94–70W) Technicon Industrial Systems, Tarrytown, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas RL, Sheard RW, Moyer JR (1967) Comparison of conventional and automated procedures for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium analysis of plant material using a single digestion. Agron J 59:240–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Vierheilig H, Ocampo JA (1991) Susceptibility and effectiveness of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in wheat cultivars under different growing conditions. Biol Fertil Soils 11:290–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JM (1984) Competition for infection between vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 97:427–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JM, Trinick MJ (1983) Infection development and interactions between vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol 93:543–553

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    N. C. Talukdar & J. J. Germida

Authors
  1. N. C. Talukdar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. J. Germida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Talukdar, N.C., Germida, J.J. Growth and yield of lentil and wheat inoculated with three Glomus isolates from Saskatchewan soils. Mycorrhiza 5, 145–152 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202347

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202347

Key words

Search

Navigation