Role of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on tolerance to salinity of the tree legume Albizia lebbeck (L.) inoculated by Rhizobium.

ABSTRACT

Myrica esculenta (Myricaceae) and Syzygium cumini(Myrtaceae), the Indian traditional fruits The effect of different level of salinity on growth, nodulation and Nitrogen fixation of single and dual inoculated tree legumes which help arbascular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Acaulospora laevis Gerd. and Trappe with Rhizobium bacteria in the presence of different levels of salinity (concentration of NaCl) conducted in earthen pots in a completely randomized block design with three replications resulted in effective plant growth, shoot and root biomasses, nodulation and N2 fixation. The effect of different levels of salinity (concentration of NaCl) on growth, nodulation and N2 fixation of single (Rhizobium or AMF alone) and dual inoculated (Rhizobium + AMF ) tree legume has a pot culture experiment using The parameter growth , nodulation, nitrogen fixation and % AMF colonization of roots were considerable influenced with the increase in salt concentration from 0.5 % to 4.0 % NaCl. It was observed that the mycorrhizal tree legume (inoculated with the most preferred AMF Acaulospora laevis) performed better in the increasing levels of salinity in comparison to non-mycorrhozal ones. These investigations suggested a protective role play by AMF in providing resistance to the tree legume against injurious effects of salinity. Inoculation of efficient strain of AMF (Acaulospora laevis) during the course of study, prevented the injurious effects of salinity in the test plants due to enhanced water and sustainable nutrient uptake thereby promoting growth, nodulation and biogeochemical N2 cycle (fixation of nitrogen) of the tree legume under investigation.