Influence of different encapsulation types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on physiological adaptation and growth promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) subjected to water deficit

Abstract

© 2019 Academic Press. Under drought environment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can serve as a long-term biofertilizer to sustain the water and nutrient availability for the host plants. A study was conducted to check the effect of AMF and the encapsulations of the AMF and an organic fertilizer (Fer) with alginate (Al-FA) and agar-agar (Ag-FA) on maize (Zea mays L.) in response to water deficit conditions. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm) of the maize inoculated with Al-FA and Ag-FA under the water deficit was recorded to be 0.70 and 0.50, respectively. Shoot and root water content of the Al-FA plants were found to be maintained under the water deficit and were better than Ag-FA. Besides, phosphorus content in the root tissues of the Al-FA plants grown under the water deficit stress was 1.56-folds greater than in the Ag-FA plants, thereby promoting the photosynthetic abilities and plant height in the former case. The study indicated that the Al-FA type of encapsulation may perform better than the Ag-FA in case of maize plants, leading to its better development under water limited conditions.