Methods used for the histological-quantitative analysis of olive tree root system: effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. [Spanish

• Main Author: Murad W
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: Spanish
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: micorrizas arbusculares vesiculares; mycorhize a vesicule et arbuscule; olea europaea; root systems; sistema radicular; systeme racinaire; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae

In this study, an innovative methodology for sampling and analysis was developed. Roots of semi-woody rooted cuttings of the olive Olea europaea L. cv. Picual, inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices, were compared with control plants. Preparations of groups of roots representative of the plant root system were obtained by modifying the classical histological paraffin procedures, allowing quantitative analysis of the microscopic observations. The tissue structure and differentiation patterns previously described for olive roots were confirmed. Three development stages were defined based on vascular differentiation, medula lignification and peridermal formation. Root inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungi stimulated the formation of root branching. Transverse area was less in the inoculated treatment, possibly due to the priority of assimilate use by lateral root production. In both treatments, relatively few root hairs and variable numbers of protoxylem poles were found, mainly tetrarch. Typical arbuscular mycorrhizal structures were observed in the cortex of the inoculated roots.