Arbuscular mycorrhizal root infection as an important factor of grapevine nutrition status. Multivariate analysis application for evaluation and characterization of the soil and leaf parameters

A survey on the relation between presence and abundance of arbuscular (A) m ycorrhiza in vineroots and its mineral nutrition was conducted in the Naous a area of northern Greece over two years (1995, 1996). Soil and leaf analys es of the most important nutrients were conducted on the vines where mycorr hizal infection was found. Data on mycorrhizal infection and nutrient level s were analyzed by analysis of variance, principal component analysis and c luster analysis. The results indicated a high percentage of root infection by A-mycorrhiza. The genera most frequently associated were Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora a nd Scutellospora. In the cases with low soil-P levels, percentage of root i nfection was high. There was a strong inverse correlation between soil-P an d % root infection, but there was no significant correlation between leaf-P levels and % root infection. Of all the parameter tested, the mycorrhizal parameters and the soluble soil-P content are the most important factors, l eading to a classification of vineyards into homogeneous groups based on so il and nutritional characteristics. These conclusions were made using Princ ipal Component Analysis. Vineyards with high mycorrhizal colonization showe d a greater concentration of blade and petiole-Mn, petiole-Zn and blade-Fe.