Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) on Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) under Salt Stress

The effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae, Paraglomus occultum and Glomus etunicatum, on the growth and nutrient uptake of the Prunus maritima, cultured with or without NaCl, were evaluated. Plant biomass, AM colonization and spore density were also assessed. Salt stress adversely affected plant N, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn and Mn nutrient acquisition, except for Fe, resulting in an important reduction in shoot dry biomass. Inoculation of the AM fungus strongly promoted AM colonization and spore density, plant dry biomass, root/shoot dry weight ratio and nutrient uptake by P. maritima, regardless of salinity level. Among the three Glomus species, the total dry biomass of beach plum plants associated with G. mosseae and G. etunicatum was significantly higher than that of the control plants (48 and 43%, respectively), and so is the total leaf area (34 and 33 %, respectively). These findings suggest that inoculation with specific AMF therefore constituted an alternative method to relieve stress of soil salinization on beach plum.