Articles
ROOT ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI AND BORON NUTRITION: EFFECT ON AVOCADO (PERSEA AMERICANA MILL.) ‘HASS’ PLANTS GROWING ON AN ANDISOL
Article number
868_53
Pages
395 – 400
Language
English
Abstract
In commercial orchards, avocado Persea americana Mill Hass grafted onto a Mexican rootstock is always associated with fungal endophytes; their role in boron nutrition was studied under greenhouse conditions, in andisol from Michoacan, Mexico.
The effect of mycorrhized roots on boron accumulation in different plant parts, on stem firmness and on soluble boron in soil was evaluated.
Treatments were derived from a factorial 32 with inoculum (indigenous root endophytic fungi – REF, Glomus intraradices – Gi and endophyte free plants – T) as one factor.
Soluble boron supply (0.13 – original soil concentration, 0.25, and 0.50 mg kg-1 dry soil) was the second factor.
Boron was added as boric acid.
Results showed that: i) REF raised total plant boron content; ii) Gi had no evident effect on boron accumulation and iii) there are statistical differences as independent factors for total boron and for inoculum type, but their interaction was not significant.
Further research on the role of REF is required because: 1) plants that grew for 6 months on a boron deficient soil with REF did not show any symptoms of boron deficiency; 2) when soil was inoculated with REF, total boron increased after one year and also increased soluble boron concentration in the soil; 3) boron deficient plant stems were weaker, and; 4) REF increased stem firmness of boron deficient plants.
The effect of mycorrhized roots on boron accumulation in different plant parts, on stem firmness and on soluble boron in soil was evaluated.
Treatments were derived from a factorial 32 with inoculum (indigenous root endophytic fungi – REF, Glomus intraradices – Gi and endophyte free plants – T) as one factor.
Soluble boron supply (0.13 – original soil concentration, 0.25, and 0.50 mg kg-1 dry soil) was the second factor.
Boron was added as boric acid.
Results showed that: i) REF raised total plant boron content; ii) Gi had no evident effect on boron accumulation and iii) there are statistical differences as independent factors for total boron and for inoculum type, but their interaction was not significant.
Further research on the role of REF is required because: 1) plants that grew for 6 months on a boron deficient soil with REF did not show any symptoms of boron deficiency; 2) when soil was inoculated with REF, total boron increased after one year and also increased soluble boron concentration in the soil; 3) boron deficient plant stems were weaker, and; 4) REF increased stem firmness of boron deficient plants.
Authors
A. Castillo-Vega, P. Sánchez-García, J. Pérez-Moreno, M.N. Rodríguez-Mendoza, L.I. Trejo-Téllez, M. Sandoval-Villa, G. Alcántar-González
Keywords
avocado, boron, Glomus intraradices, Persea Americana
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