Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improved Growth and Acclimatization of Micropropagated Fegra Fig (Ficus palmata Forssk.) Plantlets

Bibliographic Details
Title: Application of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Improved Growth and Acclimatization of Micropropagated Fegra Fig (Ficus palmata Forssk.) Plantlets
Authors: Y. H. Dewir, A. A. Al-Aizari, R. S. Al-Obeed, T. S. Alshahrani, M. M. Habib, J. A. Malik, A. A. Al-Qarawi, M. S. Alwahibi
Source: HortScience, Vol 59, Iss 11 (2024)
Publisher Information: American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Plant culture
Subject Terms: acclimatization, gigaspora, hardening, mycorrhization, rooting, Plant culture, SB1-1110
More Details: Fegra fig (Ficus palmata) is an important fruit-yielding crop and potential rootstock for grafting Ficus carica. The acclimatization phase is a pivotal step during the micropropagation of plants. During this study, the mycorrhization of micropropagated fegra fig plants with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Gigaspora margarita and Gigaspora albida) to enhance their growth and survival during the acclimatization stage was investigated. The AMF were mixed in equal proportions and the acclimatizing fegra fig plantlets were treated for 8 weeks. The leaf pigments, i.e., chlorophyll a [2.56 mg·g−1 fresh weight (FW)], chlorophyll b (1.08 mg·g−1 FW), total chlorophyll (3.67 mg·g−1 FW), and carotenoid (1.34 mg·g−1 FW), of AMF-treated plants were higher than those of non-AMF plants. The number of stomata per unit was higher in the AMF-treated plants (16.00), the density of stomata per unit area (88.40 mm2) of AMF-treated plants was similar to that of non-AMF treated plants, and the number of epidermal cells (79.00) was higher in the AMF-treated plants. The AMF-treated plants were taller and had more leaves, a greater leaf area, and higher shoot FW and dry weight. The AMF-treated plants also had the greatest total root length values, greatest surface areas of roots, and greatest total root volume and diameter compared to those of non-AMF plants. Additionally, the AMF-treated plants had a 100% survival rate, whereas a survival rate of 95% was recorded for non-AMF plants. These findings emphasize the importance of biological acclimatization of micropropagated fegra fig plants with AMF.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2327-9834
Relation: https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/59/11/article-p1674.xml; https://doaj.org/toc/2327-9834
DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI18211-24
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/de850af9b5e148fca5e5d77d9c435cb9
Accession Number: edsdoj.850af9b5e148fca5e5d77d9c435cb9
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23279834
DOI:10.21273/HORTSCI18211-24
Published in:HortScience
Language:English