Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in Citrus volkameriana Tan & Pasq

Resumen

Objective. We evaluated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in Citrus
volkameriana Tan & Pasq plants with the application of Glomus spp Zac- 19 (G.
claroides, G. diaphanum and G. albidum) to assess growth under greenhouse
conditions without fertilizer application.
Methodology. The evaluated treatments were inoculation with 2,4,6,8, and 10 g of
inoculum, plus a control without inoculation in an experimental design of complete
randomized blocks with three replications. Variables were plant height, stem diameter,
number of leaves, foliar area, dry weight, and mycorrhizal colonization.
Results. A statistically significant response (p?0.01) to inoculation was
observed, registering higher growth of mycorrhizal plants. The inoculation was
considered appropriate for all the levels evaluated. The outstanding treatment was 10 g
of inoculum that produced plants with 110.16 cm in height for the last sampling; 38.56
leaves per plant; 1.13 cm stem diameter; 35.95 g dry weight of root; 76.88 g dry weight
of the aerial part of the plant; 225.03 cm 2 of leaf area per plant and 88.87% of
mycorrhizal colonization.
Conclusions. The application of 10 g per plant to the roots of Citrus volkameriana from
the Glomus Zac-19 arbuscular mycorrhizal consortium promoted the production of more
vigorous plants for grafting, without the application of chemical fertilizer.