Arbuscular-mycorrhizal contributes to alleviation of salt damage in cassava clones

This study determined how arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) colonization by Glomus intraradices affected plant biomass and salt tolerance (in terms of growth) of three cassava clones (SOM-1, 05, and 50). Survival, root, stem and leaf production, and nutrient accumulation were determined in AM-inoculated and non-inoculated cassava clones under a range of sodium chloride (NaCl) levels (0, 68.4, or 136.8 mM) in the medium. The AM colonization stimulated plant growth and increased survival at 136.8 mM of salt. Clone SOM-1 showed to be the most salt tolerant of the three clones tested. G. intraradices-inoculation was important not only for growth promotion, but also played a crucial role in protecting cassava clones against salt (particularly the most salt sensitive clones). Mycorrhizal clones growing under 136.8 mM of NaCl showed greater dry weight than non-mycorrhizal clones growing without salt. Results show that AM-colonization provides a biological mechanism by which cassava clones increased plant biomass and salt tolerance being required for the best cassava clone development under non-stress and stress conditions.