ARBUSCULAR INOCULATION IN Citrus volkameriana Tan & Pasq

Abstract

ABSTRAC

Objective. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation with Glomus spp Zac- 19 (G. claroides, G. diaphanum, and G. albidum) application on Citrus volkameriana Tan & Pasq plants was evaluated to assess growth in nursery conditions without fertilizer application.

Methodology. The evaluated treatments were inoculation with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g of inoculum, plus a control treatment without inoculation, in a randomized complete block experimental design with three replicates. The study variables were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry weight, and mycorrhizal colonization.

Results A significant statistical response (p?0.01) to inoculation was observed, with a greater growth of mycorrhized plants. Mycorrhizal inoculation was considered appropriate for all levels of inoculation. The outstanding treatment corresponded to the inoculation with 10 g of inoculum which produced plants with 110.16 cm height; 38.56 leaves per plant; 1.13 cm stem diameter; 35.95 g dry root weight; 76.88 g dry weight of the aerial part of the plant; 225.03 cm² of leaf area per plant, and 88.87% of mycorrhizal colonization in the last sampling.

Conclusions The application of 10 g of the Glomus spp Zac-19 arbuscular mycorrhizal consortium per plant to the Citrus volkameriana root promoted the production of more vigorous plants for grafting, without the application of chemical fertilizer.