1Laboratory for the Improvement and Development of Plant and Animal Production (LADPVA), Ferhat Abbas Setif University, Setif, 19000, Algeria
2Laboratory of Horticultural Sciences, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, LR13AGR01, 1082 Tunis, Mahrajene, Tunisia
*Corresponding Author: Mahieddine Sebbane, Laboratory for the Improvement and Development of Plant and Animal Production (LADPVA), Ferhat Abbas Setif University, Setif, 19000, Algeria. Email: sebane07@yahoo.fr
Online published on 17 March, 2023.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are root symbionts that improve host plant growth and resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses allowing a sustain plant production particularly under harsh conditions.
The objective of this study is to compare the effect of conventional tillage and no-tillage practices on AMF symbiosis with durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf) through the evaluation of root colonization and AMF spore density in the soil of three different sites in a semi-arid region in Algeria. Two sites were conducted under rain-fed conditions and one was irrigated.
Mycorrhizal root colonization varied according to the site and the tillage practice, while spore density differed between sites. Spore density was higher in sites under rain-fed conditions suggesting that water deficit stimulate sporulation, while root colonization seems to be limited by drought. No-tillage improved root colonization rates by 54.3% compared to conventional tillage system and this improvement, particularly the arbuscular percentage, was higher under drought conditions. In addition, root colonization rates showed a positive correlation with the organic matter content and pH in the soil and a negative correlation with the available phosphorus in the soil. These results indicate that no-tillage enhance the establishment of AMF symbiosis with durum wheat under semi-arid conditions.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Drought, Durum wheat, No-tillage, Semi-arid
