90 research outputs found
In vitro mycorrhization of micropropagated plants: studies on Castanea sativa Mill.
In vitro mycorrhization can be made by several axenic and nonaxenic
techniques but criticism exists about their artificiality and inability to
reproduce under natural conditions. However, artificial mycorrhization under
controlled conditions can provide important information about the physiology
of symbiosis. Micropropagated Castanea sativa plants were inoculated with
the mycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius after in vitro rooting. The
mycorrhizal process was monitored at regular intervals in order to evaluate the
mantle and hartig net formation, and the growth rates of mycorrhizal and
nonmycorrhizal plants. Plant roots show fungal hyphae adhesion at the surface
after 24 hours of mycorrhizal induction. After 20 days a mantle can be
observed and a hartig net is forming although the morphology of the epidermal
cells remains unaltered. At 30 days of root–fungus contact the hartig net is
well developed and the epidermal cells are already enlarged. After 50 days of
mycorrhizal induction, growth was higher for mycorrhizal plants than for
nonmycorrhizal ones. The length of the major roots was lower in mycorrhizal
plants after 40 days. Fresh and dry weights were higher in mycorrhizal plants
after 30 days. The growth rates of chestnut mycorrhizal plants are in agreement
with the morphological development of the mycorrhizal structures observed at
each mycorrhizal time. The assessment of symbiotic establishment takes into
account the formation of a mantle and a hartig net that were already developed
at 30 days, when differences between fresh and dry weights of mycorrhizal and
nonmycorrhizal plants can be quantified. In vitro conditions, mycorrhization
influences plant physiology after 20 days of root–fungus contact, namely in
terms of growth rates. Fresh and dry weights, heights, stem diameter and
growth rates increased while major root growth rate decreased in mycorrhizal
plants.Springe
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