RESPONSE OF MYCORRHIZAL AND NONMYCORRHIZAL ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA TO NACL AND ACID STRESS

The response of peanut to salt (NaCl) and acid (HCl) stress was studie d in association with Glomus caledonium, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM ) fungus. The plants were exposed to salt stress by irrigation on alte rnate days with 1% or 5% NaCl solutions, or with 0.1 N HCl to induce a cid stress. Plant yield almost tripled in mycorrhizal plants compared with nonmycorrhizal control plants. AM inoculation significantly incre ased plant yield and biomass at 1% NaCl, while at 5% NaCl AM was less effective in alleviating salt stress. Percentage AM colonization was a lso lowest at 5% NaCl. AM inoculation was found to promote the establi shment of peanut plants under acid stress conditions.