Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2022
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 6

Impact of a selected mycorrhizal complex and a rhizobacterial species on tomato plants’ growth under water stress conditions

  • Author:
  • Afafe Slimani1,2,*, Oumaima Harkousse1,2, Mouaad Amine Mazri3, Abdelmajid Zouahri4, Lahcen Ouahmane5, Tayeb Koussa1, Mohamed Najib Al Feddy2
  • Total Page Count: 9
  • Page Number: 696 to 704

1Chouaib Doukkali University, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Exploitation, Department of Biology, Bd. les Facultes, 24000El Jadida, Morocco

2National Institute of Agronomic Research, Plant Protection Unit Laboratory of Phyto-Bacteriology, Marrakech, Morocco

3National Institute of Agronomic Research, Agro-Biotechnology Unit Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Marrakech, Morocco

4National Institute of Agronomic Research, Environment and Conservation of Natural Ressources UnitRabat, Morocco

5Cadi Ayyad University, Semlalia Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Microbial Biotechlogies, Agro-Sciences and Environnement, Departement of Biology, Bd. prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakech, Morocco

*Corresponding Author: Slimani Afafe, National Institute of Agronomic Research, Plant Protection Unit Laboratory of Phyto-Bacteriology, 40000Marrakech, Morocco. Email: Slimani.afaf.iaa@gmail.com

Online published on 31 December, 2022.

Abstract

Plant strategies for adapting to drought could be improved by associations between plant roots and soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, the impact of a selected AMF complex and a selected PGPR species on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) under induced water stress was evaluated.

Three different inoculation treatments were applied to tomato seedlings (a complex of AMF composed mainly of Glomus genus a Bacillus sp. PGPR treatment and a combination of both) and three different water levels (75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity).

A significant damaging impact of drought on tomato growth parameters and root mycorrhizal colonization, although the presence of microbes stimulated tomato plants growth and decreased the impact ofdrought stress. Indeed inoculated plants presented greater heights, fresh and dry weights, leaves number and area; greater water status; and greater proteins, sugars and chlorophylls contents either with the AMF complex or the Bacillus sp. in normal and drought stress conditions compared to the non-inoculated plants. However dual inoculation recorded the highest values under all water levels treatments.

Keywords

AMF, Drought stress, Growth, Inoculation, PGPR, Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.)