Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alters nutrient allocation and flowering of Freesia x hybrida

• Published in: Journal of environmental horticulture Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 196 - 205
• Main Author: Scagel, C.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: chemical composition; corms; dry matter partitioning; flowering; flowers; Freesia; Glomus intraradices; hybrids; leaves; mycorrhizal fungi; nutrient partitioning; plant development; plant growth; root inoculation; soil sterilization; vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae
• ISSN: 0738-2898; 2573-5586

We assessed whether inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of corms from three different Freesia x hybrida varieties grown in pasteurized or non-pasteurized soil alters aspects of flower and corm production during two growth cycles after inoculation. Shoots on AMF-inoculated plants emerged approximately 2 to 3 days earlier than shoots on non-inoculated plants. AMF had no influence on flower opening in the first growth cycle, but inoculated plants produced flowers approximately 20 days earlier than non-inoculated plants in the second growth cycle. When grown in non-pasteurized soil, inoculated plants produced more leaves, flowers, inflorescences, and flowers per inflorescence than non-inoculated plants. AMF-inoculated plants produced heavier daughter corms than non-inoculated plants. Inoculation increased the number of cormlets produced by two of the three varieties, however only one variety produced larger cormlets when inoculated. AMF-inoculated plants produced corms with protein, amino acid, and sugar concentrations and contents equal to or higher than corms from non-inoculated plants. Inoculation altered aspects of plant morphology and biomass partitioning important to flower and corm production of Freesia . Other soil organisms associated with non-pasteurized soil, and washings from AMF inoculum also play a role in the response of Freesia to AMF inoculation.