Mycorrhizal fungi enhance growth and nutrient uptake of prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar 'Reyna') plantlets after ex vitro transplantation

Citation
Aa. Estrada-luna et Ft. Davies, Mycorrhizal fungi enhance growth and nutrient uptake of prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar 'Reyna') plantlets after ex vitro transplantation, J HORT SCI, 76(6), 2001, pp. 739-745
Citations number
43
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE & BIOTECHNOLOGY
ISSN journal
14620316 → ACNP
Volume
76
Issue
6
Year of publication
2001
Pages
739 - 745
Database
ISI
SICI code
1462-0316(200111)76:6<739:MFEGAN>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
We studied the effects of a mixed Mexican arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) funga l inoculum (composed of Glomus albidum, G. diaphanum, and G. claroides) and low phosphate supply (0 and 11 mug P ml(-1)) on growth and nutrient uptake of micropropagated prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia albicarpa Scheinvar Reyna) plantlets. After seven months of glasshouse culture, there was 100% surviv al of the micropropagated plantlets. Mycorrhizal colonization occurred rapi dly within 5 d of inoculation, with the development of internal hyphae in r oot cortical cells. At the end of the study, high levels (48-54%) of coloni zation were observed. Plantlets transferred to soil began to grow actively with no lag phase. However, plant growth rate was significantly affected by treatments. Poorest growth occurred with uninoculated plantlets that lacke d supplementary P supply. In contrast, the combination of mycorrhizal colon ization and supplementary P significantly increased shoot length, shoot and root DM and surface area of the plantlets. AM fungi enhanced concentration of P and Zn and increased nutrient uptake of P, B and Zn in the cladodes. We conclude that AM fungi can be used as a biotechnological tool that allow s more efficient, low P input to enhance ex vitro transplantation of O. alb icarpa.