Various mycorrhizal fungi propagated on different hosts have different effect on citrus growth and nutrient uptake

Citrus cultivation is expected to expand in the Çukurova Region (East Mediterranean coast of Turkey). The aim of this study was to screen and select the most suitable arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) for enhancing citrus growth by improving phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) uptake of plants. This study was carried out in a glasshouse at the Department of Soil Science, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey. Five different mycorrhizal species were tested in the first and second experiment. The AM fungi used were Glomus, mosseae (UK), G. mosseae (USA), G. clarium, G. caledonium and G. etunicatum which were propagated in Experiment I on clover, and in Experiment II on maize. Experiments were performed in autoclaved soil + organic matter + sand (2:1:7 V) as a growth media. Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) seedlings grown in containers in a glasshouse were inoculated with the 5 AM species. There were significant differences between species in growth, nutrient uptake and percentage of mycorrhizal infection for both experiments. Glomus clarium gave the best improvements in growth and nutrition, resulting in greater leaf area, plant height, stem diameter and plant biomass, with higher shoot P, Zn, and copper (Cu) contents. In both experiments, plants inoculated with AM Glomus clarium grew taller than other mycorrhizal species. In both experiments, inoculation with G. clarium increased shoot dry matter P, Zn, and Cu contents, but reduced nitrogen (N) concentrations compared to the non-inoculated plants. Glomus clarium increased root length and the percent of mycorrhizae compared to other species. In the first experiment the order of effectiveness of species was as follows: G. clarium > G. mosseae (1) > G. mosseae (2) > G. caledonium > G. etunicatum > control. In the second experiment, the order of effectiveness of species was as follows: G. clarium > G. caledonium > G. etunicatum > G. mosseae (2) G. mosseae (1) > control