Evaluation of Nutrients Uptake and Yield of Mycorrhizal Corn under Salt Stress Condition

Mycorrhizal fungi are important symbionts in plants and play key roles in nutrients acquisition and enhancing plant tolerance against environmental stresses. A factorial experiment was conducted with maize plant in a completely-randomized design with four replications in greenhouse conditions. The factors were NaCl salinity with three levels ( 1.34, 4 and 8 dS/m) and mycorrhizal fungi with four levels (non mycorrhizal, Glomus versiforme, G. intraradices, and G. etunicatum). Shoot and root dry weights, root colonization percentage, and concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Cl were measured. The results showed that the interaction of salinity and mycorrhizal fungi on shoot and root dry weights, root colonization percentage, contents of P, K, Ca, Mg and concentration of Na was significant at p≤0.01. The highest shoot and root dry weights were obtained at the salinity level of 1.34 dS/m in the presence of mycorrhizal fungi. Statistical analysis showed that shoot and root dry weights, and contents of P, K, Ca, and Mg in mycorrhizal plants were significantly higher than those in non-mycorrhizal plants. Also Na and Cl concentrations decreased in shoot of mycorrhizal plants but not in their roots. At the 8 dS/m salinity level, root colonization percentage decreased significantly compared to the non-saline control.