Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (1): 78-89.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.01.09

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Growth promotion and mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings

WANG Zixuan(),XIE Tiantian,WANG Yaru,YANG Jieyan,YANG Xiuqing()   

  1. College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2022-07-05 Revised:2022-08-02 Online:2023-01-15 Published:2023-02-24

Abstract:

To solve the technical problems of underdeveloped root systems, poor regeneration, and low survival rate of transplanting and afforestation of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings, as well as the effective propagation and preservation of its resources. In this experiment, AMF were used to treat the roots of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings using different inoculation methods. The infection status of AMF, the changes in plant growth and biomass, the physiological characteristics of roots and leaves, the changes in rhizosphere soil enzyme activities, and their correlation with seedling growth and biomass were analyzed. This study aimed to explore the growth promotion and mechanism of root mycorrhization in Ammopiptanthus mongolicus. The results showed that AMF (Rhiaophagus intraradice, Funneliformis mosseae) could effectively infect the roots of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings and construct a mutualistic symbiont with their roots. The degree of affinity between different strains and host plants varies. (1) The growth of single and mixed inoculations was higher than that of non-inoculation (CK), which was mainly reflected in the relatively large plant height (34.7%-47.3%) and root length (32.7%-72.9%). Compared with single inoculation, mixed inoculation significantly increased the root projection area, root volume, root-shoot ratio, root dry weight, root surface area, biomass, and seedling quality index. (2) After AMF inoculation, the root activity, cation exchange capacity, and soluble protein content of the mixed inoculated seedlings (R. i+F. m) increased significantly by 338.7%, 177.2%, and 240.4% compared with the control. The nitrate reductase and alkaline phosphatase activities of the roots were also significantly higher than those of the single inoculated (R. i and F. m) and non-inoculated seedlings. Simultaneously, the net photosynthetic rate and soluble protein content in the leaves of seedlings under this treatment increased significantly by 237.5% and 54.3% compared with the control. (3) The activities of urease, alkaline phosphatase, and invertase in the rhizosphere soil of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings increased significantly using the three inoculation methods, and the enzyme activities of the three soils increased most significantly under the mixed inoculation treatment, surging by 564.7%, 145.8%, and 154.3%, respectively, compared with the control. The comprehensive analysis of the above indicators, AMF could stimulate the production and secretion of enzymes in the rhizosphere of seedlings and promote the cation exchange capacity and root activity by infecting the Ammopiptanthus mongolicus roots, which was helpful in enhancing the enzymatic effect and nutrient accumulation, such as proteins in the process of root metabolism, and affected and improved the photosynthetic metabolism and nutrient storage of seedlings, to promote the growth and biomass accumulation of roots and seedlings of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus.

Key words: Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Fungi, root mycorrhization, seedling growth, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus