Growth and nutrient element content in mycorrhizae colonized mint plants under saline conditions

Abstract

Saline areas of the world has increased rapidly as a result of the wrong agronomic managements. The remediation of saline soils is an expensive and difficult method. Instead, the use of resistant cultivars under saline conditions or some applications such as mycorrhiza usage which increases the plant's resistance, are more rational under stress conditions. In the experiment, growth and nutrient element content of mycorrhizae colonized and control mint plants under saline conditions were investigated. As a pot experiment, we used mint plants (Mentha piperita ‘Sewiss’) and three different mycorrhiza species (Glomus macrocarpium, Glomus fasciculatum and their cocktail (1:1, v/v) were used. Salt applications were initiated 10 days after transplanting. The measurements have been done after 60 days from transplanting. The number of branches of plants, plant height, root length, fresh and dry shoot and root fresh and dry weights were measured . At the end of the experiment, nutrient content in leaves and colonization of mychorrhizae in roots were determined. Use of mycorrhizae on mint plants was determined as a positive utilization in saline conditions Under the salt stress 2 species of mycorrhizae and cocktail mix have positively affected mint plant growth. Shoot and root growths and number of branches were increased by the mychorriza supplications. Mychorriza application also increased the K and Ca uptake of mint plants under saline conditions. © 2019 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.