Growth and development of AM fungi and maize under salt and acid stress

The growth and development of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and maize as a response to salt and acid stress was studied. Maize plants were placed under salt stress by supplementing NaCl (3%) and acid stress by HCl under inoculated conditions. Plant growth was reduced by almost 50% compared with uninoculated control plants under the NaCl treatment. AM colonization in terms of percentage and number of vesicles/root and spore count in the soils was also reduced in this treatment. NaCl treatment was found to be inhibitory for the development and growth of maize as well as Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Overall, maize plants showed reduced rate of growth in acid treatments, apart from root dry weight. No mycorrhization was, however, detected in the acid treated maize plants.