Combined inoculation with dark septate endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: synergistic or competitive growth effects on maize?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Effects on maize were assessed of dual inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) isolated from other plant species.

Methods

Suspensions of DSE isolated from Stipa krylovii were prepared at different densities (2, 4, and 8 × 10⁵ CFU mL^- 1) and inoculated separately (AMF or DSE) or together (AMF + DSE), to explore their effects on maize growth.

Results

Inoculation with AMF or medium and high densities of DSE and combined inoculation (AMF + DSE) increased plant above-ground growth and altered root morphology. Differences in plant growth were attributable to differences in DSE density, with negative DSE inoculation responsiveness at low density. AMF promoted plant above-ground growth more than DS

SUBMITTER: Xie L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8555310 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature