Physiological response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under salinity conditions

Resumen

Objective. Evaluate the effect of salinity due to NaCl on physiological variables of chickpea plants using native strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus cubensis and Rhizoglomus irregulare during the pre-flowering stage.

Design/methodology/approach. The research was carried out under controlled weather conditions using the chickpea variety N-29 as an experimental model. The treatments consisted on the combination of four salinity levels: 0, 25, 50 and 75 mM NaCl (variation source A) and AMF (variation source B) in three levels. In total there were 12 treatments with six repetitions, which were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design. The evaluated variables were number of green and dry leaves, dry biomass per organ (leaves, root and stem), net assimilation rate (NAR), relative growth rate (RGR) and leaf area ratio (LAR).

Results. The green leaves, the NAR and the dry biomass from roots and leaves, were the variables with the greatest response in the 50 mM NaCl + R. irregulare treatment, with an average increase of 15% with respect to the rest of the treatments.

Limitations/implications. A decrease on the evaluated variables was observed due to the salinity effect; however, chickpea plants subjected to NaCl 50 mM inoculated with R. irregulare were less affected by salt stress.

Findings/conclusions. The R. irregulare strain was found to contribute more than the G. cubensis to the mitigation of the adverse effects from the salinity factor.