Determination of different growth media and various mycorrhizae species on citrus growth and nutrient uptake

The influence of mycorrhiza species and growing media (GM) on the growth and nutrient uptake of citrus seedlings (sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.)) was studied. The experiments were conducted over 10 months using: four growth media, eight mycorrhiza species, one cocktail of mycorrhizae spores and one indigenous mycorrhiza spore (collected from the citrus orchard rhizosphere). Four different growing media were tested under controlled greenhouse conditions: GM-A, andesitic tuff + peat (1:1, v/v); GM-B, andesitic tuff + compost (1:1, v/v); GM-C, andesitic tuff + peat + compost (2:1:1, v/v/v) and GM-D andesitic tuff + peat + soil (from the Balcali region) (2:1:1, v/v/v). After a 10 month growing period, the highest values of leaf number, height, shoots and root dry weight were found in GM-C, followed by GM-A and GM-D; whereas the lowest values were found using the GM-B treatment. The results reveal that mycorrhizal inoculation increased the shoot and root dry weight production, compared with the levels found in non-inoculated plants. It was observed that various mycorrhiza species exhibit different responses when varying the growth media; it was also observed that G. clarium, G. margarita, Glomus mosseae, Dr. Kindom (commercial inoculum) and indigenous mycorrhiza (IM) are efficient mycorrhizae species for seedling growth. Mycorrhiza-inoculated citrus seedlings contained a higher content of phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn) than non-inoculated plants. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.