Field Inoculation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improves Fruit Quality and Root Physiological Activity of Citrus

Soil arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form a mutualistic symbiosis with plant roots and produce many benefits on host plants under potted conditions, while field inoculation of AM citrus (a woody plant) has been rarely reported. The present study aimed to analyze the changes in growth, root vitality, fruit quality Citrus reticulata Blanco var. Ponkan mandarin cv. Jinshuigan grafted Poncirus trifoliata L. after mix (Diversispora versiformis, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices) single F. mosseae. After second year fungal inoculations, colonization (%), hyphal length soil, easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein content were significantly increased, difficult-to-extract was decreased. Two treatments collectively improved parameters such as polar diameter, equatorial weight fruits, peel, sarcocarp, coloration value, soluble solids content. Our study, therefore, suggested that physiological activities terms growth vitality thus quality. effect mixed-AM treatment more significant than mosseae alone.