An investigation of the impact of Glomus clarum (mycorrhiza) on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum mill.) on both sterilized and non-sterilized soils

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of Glomus clarum (mycorrhiza) on the growth of tomato seedlings grown in both sterilized and non-sterilized soils. Highest growth parameter values were recorded in tomato plants inoculated with mycorrhiza but grown in sterilized soil, followed by those grown in non-sterilized soil but inoculated with mycorrhiza also. Sterilized but non-inoculated tomato plants also had growth and were closely followed by non-sterilized, non-inoculated tomato plants. There was no significant difference in all the treatments when girth of the tomato plants used was measured in this study. Nutrient uptake (N,P,K) was significantly found highest in the inoculated sterilized tomato plants while it was found lowest in the non-sterilized, non-inoculated tomato plants. Generally, mycorrhizal-inoculated tomato plants (whether sterilized or non-sterilized) showed better growth in all the treatments used.

[1]  O. Awotoye,et al.  Effects of ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on drought tolerance of four leguminous woody seedlings , 1991, Plant and Soil.

[2]  M. A. Martins.  The role of the external mycelial network of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a study of carbon transfer between plants interconnected by a common mycelium , 1992, Mycorrhiza.

[3]  K. Mulongoy,et al.  Effects of drought stress and arbuscular mycorrhiza on the growth of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq). Walp, and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. in simulated eroded soil conditions , 2001, Mycorrhiza.

[4]  C. Chanway,et al.  Ecological Implications of Specificity between Plants and Rhizosphere Micro-organisms , 1991 .

[5]  I. E. Okon,et al.  Effect of different fungal inoculation periods on performance of Gmelina seedlings under dry soil conditions , 1990 .

[6]  M. Alexander,et al.  Explanations for the acclimation period preceding the mineralization of organic chemicals in aquatic environments , 1987, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[7]  A. Manjunath,et al.  Soil Solution Phosphorus Status and Mycorrhizal Dependency in Leucaena leucocephala , 1987, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[8]  B. Hetrick,et al.  The influence of phosphorus fertilization, drought, fungal species, and nonsterile soil on mycorrhizal growth response in tall grass prairie plants , 1986 .

[9]  B. Kang,et al.  15 – DEVELOPING STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE BIOLOGICAL CROPPING SYSTEMS FOR THE HUMID TROPICS , 1981 .

[10]  D. E. Baker,et al.  ADAPTATION OF VESICULAR‐ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE TO EDAPHIC FACTORS* , 1980 .

[11]  J. P. Ross.  Effect of nontreated field soil on sporulation of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with soybean. , 1980 .

[12]  R. Singer,et al.  The Biology of Mycorrhiza , 1960 .