Water relations and gas exchange of mychorrhizal Leucaena leucocephala seedlings
1994
Dixon, R. K. | Rao, M. V. | Garg, V. K.
Leucaena leucocephala seedlings were inoculated with four species of vesicular-arbtiscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus deserticola, Glomus etunicatum and Glomus intraradices, andtwo species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, Pisolithus tinctorius and Laccaria laccala. After 16 weeks in a glasshouse, plants inoculated with VAM fungi were significantly larger (biomass and leaf area) than non-inoculated control seedlings. Adequate VAM colonization was observed on root systems of plants inoculated with Gigaspora andGlomus species. Plants inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi were non-mycorrhizal but were larger in biomass than non-inoculated control seedlings. Phosphorus concentration of mycorrhizal seedlings was significantly greater than nonmycorrhizal plants. Leaf water potential, leaf stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of seedlings were measured at mid-light during pre-, mid-, and post-waterstress treatments. Although larger in biomass and leaf area, the VAM seedlings maintained slightly greater leaf water potential, leaf stomatal conductance and photosynthesis relative to the non-mycorrhizal plants at the peak of the drought. After re-watering the growth medium, leaf water potential, leaf conductance, andphotosynthesis of the VAM seedlings were significantly greater compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. These data suggest that VAM fungi help I^eucaena leucocephala to avoid drought stress.
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