Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Apple Rootstocks in Calcareous Soil

The effects of three Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) species (Glomus versiforme, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Rhizophagus intraradices) were studied on the growth parameters and nutrient uptake of three apple rootstocks (M.9, M.7 and MM.106). The soil medium contained a high level of calcium carbonate (38.65%). The results showed that AMF inoculation could increase almost all growth parameters. Plants inoculated with G. versiforme had the highest shoot height, stem diameter, leaf size, and biomass compared to other AMF species. Rootstocks also varied substantially in their growth. MM.106 exhibited the highest growth in general, whereas the M.9 had the lowest. Plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi contained more N, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe compared to those of Non Mycorhizal (NM) control plants. However, AMF inoculation did not influence concentrations of K, Cu, and Mn in the leaf. Rootstocks exhibited various nutrient concentrations in their leaves and the highest concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, and Zn were measured in MM.106. The highest leaf concentration of N, Fe, Mn, and Cu occurred in M.9, while the M.7 accumulated the highest amount of P in its leaves. Here we demonstrate the beneficial effects of symbiosis between apple rootstocks and AMF species in calcareous soil with a very high level of lime concentration.