ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL COLONIZATION AND GROWTH OF BUFFEL GRASS (Cenchrus ciliaris) GENOTYPES

Abstract

In order to know the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth of buffel grass, (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), lines ‘PI-409443’, ‘PI-409275’, and varieties ‘Formidable’, ‘Zaragoza 115’ and ‘Común’ (control), were or not inoculated with AMF Glomus intraradices under greenhouse conditions. Two grass sample were taken, the initial on July 25 and final on November 8. On the first date, there were not significant effects of AMF on chlorophyll rate, fresh and dry biomass, in any genotypes. On the second date the symbiosis showed significant increase in chlorophyll rate, foliar protein, and dry and root biomass. Final average of mycorrhizal colonization was 42 %. The buffel genotypes ‘PI-409443’ and ‘Formidable’ registered the highest dry biomass and chlorophyll rates on first and second evaluation, as well as higher root biomass. G. intraradices increased significantly foliar protein in ‘PI-409443’, ‘Formidable’ and ‘Común’. Mycorrhizal colonization correlated significantly with chlorophyll rate (r² = 0.82) and protein content (r² = 0.92). AMF colonization promoted biomass production, chlorophyll rate and protein content in three of out of five buffel grasses genotypes at the final evaluation.