Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi

The process of re-establishing the natural level of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi richness can represent a valid alternative to conventional phosphate based fertilization practices, with a view to sustainable agriculture. The main strategy that can be adopted to achieve this goal is the direct r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa
Language:English
Published: Midlands State University 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3640
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1779905197846298624
author Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa
author_facet Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa
author_sort Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa
collection DSpace
description The process of re-establishing the natural level of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi richness can represent a valid alternative to conventional phosphate based fertilization practices, with a view to sustainable agriculture. The main strategy that can be adopted to achieve this goal is the direct re-introduction of AM fungi inoculum into a target soil. AM fungi have a high affinity for phosphorus, an essential macronutrient that participates in the skeleton of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of AM fungi on sorghum growth by measuring phosphorus uptake by the plant and the plant height. The AM fungi propagules were collected from the starter soil in Matopos. The propagules were identified by clearing the roots in 10% KOH and then staining in Methylene blue prior to microscopic analysis. After positive identification propagules were multiplied in greenhouse pot plants using the bait plant sorghum for 6 weeks. The inoculum was then transferred to the pot trials, using three different soil types red, black and sandy. After 6 weeks the sorghum seedlings were measured for phosphorus and plant height. The soil types were measured for phosphorus before and after the trials. AM fungi significantly increased plant phosphorus (p=0.0) and significantly increased plant height (p=0.013). There was no interaction between AM fungi and soil type in influencing plant phosphorus as there was no significant difference (p=0.073) and no interaction in influencing plant height as there was no significant difference (p=0.534). AM fungi inoculum has significant potential to be used as a natural bio-fertilizer. However, more field experiments need to be done to see the performance of AM fungi in an uncontrolled environment.
id ir-11408-3640
institution My University
language English
publishDate 2019
publisher Midlands State University
record_format dspace
spelling ir-11408-36402022-06-27T13:49:05Z Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa Arbuscular mycorrhizae Fungi richness The process of re-establishing the natural level of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi richness can represent a valid alternative to conventional phosphate based fertilization practices, with a view to sustainable agriculture. The main strategy that can be adopted to achieve this goal is the direct re-introduction of AM fungi inoculum into a target soil. AM fungi have a high affinity for phosphorus, an essential macronutrient that participates in the skeleton of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of AM fungi on sorghum growth by measuring phosphorus uptake by the plant and the plant height. The AM fungi propagules were collected from the starter soil in Matopos. The propagules were identified by clearing the roots in 10% KOH and then staining in Methylene blue prior to microscopic analysis. After positive identification propagules were multiplied in greenhouse pot plants using the bait plant sorghum for 6 weeks. The inoculum was then transferred to the pot trials, using three different soil types red, black and sandy. After 6 weeks the sorghum seedlings were measured for phosphorus and plant height. The soil types were measured for phosphorus before and after the trials. AM fungi significantly increased plant phosphorus (p=0.0) and significantly increased plant height (p=0.013). There was no interaction between AM fungi and soil type in influencing plant phosphorus as there was no significant difference (p=0.073) and no interaction in influencing plant height as there was no significant difference (p=0.534). AM fungi inoculum has significant potential to be used as a natural bio-fertilizer. However, more field experiments need to be done to see the performance of AM fungi in an uncontrolled environment. 2019-05-16T14:09:24Z 2019-05-16T14:09:24Z 2018 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3640 en open Midlands State University
spellingShingle Arbuscular mycorrhizae
Fungi richness
Chirambaguhwa, Tafadzwa
Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title_full Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title_fullStr Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title_full_unstemmed Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title_short Phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi
title_sort phosphorus uptake in sorghum seedlings colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
topic Arbuscular mycorrhizae
Fungi richness
url http://hdl.handle.net/11408/3640
work_keys_str_mv AT chirambaguhwatafadzwa phosphorusuptakeinsorghumseedlingscolonizedwitharbuscularmycorrhizalfungi