Effect of mycorrhizal fungi on some morphophisiological charachteristics of three genotypes of German iris (Iris germanica) under salt stress

Iris (Iris spp.) is one of the major ornamental and pharmaceutical plant species from Iridaceae family. The aim of this study was investigation the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on some morphophysilogical charachteristics of three genotypes of Iris germanica under salt stress. Experiment was conducted on a factorial and completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Treatments of this experiment were consisted of four levels of salinity (1, 4, 8 and 12 ds/m), three levels of mycorrhizal fungi (0, 15 and 25 g/kg) and three breeded genotypes of iris (OPRC-122, OPRC-125 and OPRC-S54). Whit increasing salinity level, dry weight of leaf, cholorophyll a, b, total chl, and potassium content of leaves significantley decreased and protein, catalas enzyme activity increased. In OPRC-122 genotype, 30 g/pot mycorrhizal fungi aplication led a significant increase (0.21 mg/g) of chl a in compare of control and 25 g/kg mycorrhizal fungi treatment. Also in the mentioned genotype, at salinity of 8 dS/m, application of 25 g/kg in mycorrhizal fungi compared to control and 15 g/kg mycorrhizal fungi significantly increased chlorophyll b. Application of 15 and 25 g/kg of mycorrhizal fungi at 8 dS/m decreased the sodium content in OPRC-122 genotype by 29.71% and 35.50%, respectively. Using of 50 g/pot mycorrhizal fungi at 12 dS/m in OPRC-125 genotype increased leaf potassium content by 12.61% compared to control. Generally, it seems that among three studied genotypes, OPRC-122, showed the most resistance to salinity and mycorrhizal fungi treatments better than control could increase salt tolerance of all three genotypes.