DOES MYCORRHIZA IMPROVE SALINITY TOLERANCE IN GRAFTED PLANTS?

Y. Tüzel, G.B. Öztekin, I.H. Tüzel
Grafting could be a strategy against salinity stress however rootstock genotype has a key role on the tolerance. Bio-control agents also enhance plant growth and increase salinity tolerance. The aim of this research was to combine the effects of grafting and mycorrhiza under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted in a PE covered greenhouse during the autumn and spring seasons of 2008 and 2009. ‘Maxifort’ and ‘Beaufort’ hybrid tomato rootstocks grafted with commercial cultivar ‘Gökçe F1’. Self grafted plants were used as control treatment. Half of the plants were put into solution with mycorrhiza (2.5 kg ha-1 EndoRoots® contained the spores of Endomycorrhizal (VAM) fungi (Glomus spp.)) for one day before transplanting while the rest planted as control without any treatment. Plants were grown in plastic containers filled with perlite. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 3 replicates. The EC level of the solution was increased up to 6 dS m-1 via NaCl. Irrigation timing was based on indoor integrated solar radiation level of 1.0 MJ m-2. Parameters related to plant growth, yield and fruit quality were determined. The use of rootstocks inoculated with mycorrhiza increased the total and marketable yield and plant growth. It was concluded that salinity tolerance could be improved if grafting is combined with mycorrhiza inoculation.
Tüzel, Y., Öztekin, G.B. and Tüzel, I.H. (2012). DOES MYCORRHIZA IMPROVE SALINITY TOLERANCE IN GRAFTED PLANTS?. Acta Hortic. 960, 57-69
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.960.6
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.960.6
grafting, endoroots, Glomus spp., NaCl
English

Acta Horticulturae