Abstract:
This study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) symbiosis on mineral uptake of two pistachio
cultivars (Pistacia vera cv. Qazvini and Pistacia vera cv. Badami-Riz -Zarand) grown in
the greenhouse under different drought stress levels. Drought stress (DS) reduced the
mycorrhizal colonization in both cultivars as well as nutrient uptake. The mycorrhizal
plants had higher P, K, Zn and Mn concentrations than non -mycorrhizal plants
regardless of soil moisture conditions while Cu and Fe concentrations were unchanged.
Distribution of elements was affected by AMF treatments where all except P were
accumulated more in leaves than in roots. Contrastingly, under drought conditions, the
absorbed elements tended to remain in root tissue. In the case of P and Mn uptake,
Qazvini was superior in comparison with Badami. In conclusion, it is suggested that AMF
inoculation improves drought tolerance of pistachio cultivars at least in part through the
enhanced uptake of slowly diffusing mineral ions such as PO4
2-
and Zn2+
. Moreover,
arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization provides better osmotic adjustment which can
be correlated with K
+
accumulation in top portions of inoculated plants. Results of this
study also emphasized that ‘Qazvini’ cultivar may be more tolerant to drought than
‘Badami’.
Keywords: Drought stress, Mycorrhizae, Nutrition, Pistachio.
