RESPONSE OF SNAPDRAGON (ANTIRRHINUM MAJUS L.) TO BLENDING WATER IRRIGATION AND ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI INOCULATION

The effect of various blends of irrigation water sources and the inoculation of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on plant growth, flower yield, chlorophyll content, mineral composition and other physiological indices of snap-dragon plants was studied under greenhouse conditions. Five irrigation treatments were applied: T1 (100% desalinized water (DW), as a control), T2 (75% DW + 25% well water, WW), T3 (50% DW + 50% WW), T4 (25% DW + 75% WW) and T5 (100% WW). The imposed salt stress condition (T5) significantly reduced vegetative growth, flower yield, chlorophyll content and mineral composition (P, Na, K and Ca) of the plants compared to those of plants irrigated with non-saline water (T1). Inoculated snapdragon with AM fungi gave significantly higher values for most vegetative growth, flowering date, spike length and chlorophyll content than those of non-mycorrhizal plants. The interaction analysis showed that the highest value of proline content of the leaves was detected with 100% WW (T5) and AM fungi inoculation treatments. Inoculated snapdragon plants with AM fungi showed both better plant growth and higher flower yield, chiefly under salt stress condition. The best result was obtained with (T3) treatment + mycorrhizal plants. This result included earlier flowering date, higher spike number and longer spike length. It is concluded that irrigation blending water treatment (T3) + AM fungi inoculation is recommended for greenhouse-grown snapdragon production to enhance the host plant saline water tolerance and reduce the high cost of water desalinization.