اثر قارچ‌های میکوریز آربوسکولار در بهبود مؤلفه‌های رشدی بذر گونه محلب (Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill)

Introduction: Biofortification of seeds with biofertilizers is one of the newest ways to improve seed quality. Different biological seed priming methods are gradually replacing chemical treatments. Seed strengthening through priming with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is one of the most efficient methods for improving and increasing the efficiency of seed yield in plant species. Mahlab species is one of the forest species of Zagros, which grows naturally and is in danger of destruction due to excessive exploitation, which has made its establishment and reproduction difficult. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving the growth components of the seeds of different Mahlab species populations in Isfahan province.

Material and Methods: This research was carried out considering two factors, including Mahlab seeds (10 different forest regions of Fereydounshahr and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. For this purpose, the effect of seed inoculation of Mahlab species in 10 provenances of the forests of Fereydunshahr, Isfahan province with the most mycorrhizal fungi in five levels including no inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi, inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus etunicatumandFunneliformis mosseae. The treatment of three arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (MIX) on the germination parts of Mahlab species was done factorially in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications for each treatment and 10 seedlings in a total of 150 pots. To determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the seeds, 100 Mahlab fruits were selected from each region and then the seed weight was measured. After applying mycorrhizal mushroom inoculation treatments, germination tests and germination indices were calculated.

Results and Discussion: The results of the analysis of variance showed that the effect of the region (different seed populations), inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and their mutual effect on all investigated components including germination percentage, germination speed, seed vigor index, germination strength, and root length in 1% probability level were significant. The seeds of the Mahlab variety in Chal Khalil 1 and 2 and Pushtkoh 3 Durak 2 areas had better seed germination indicators. So, the highest percentage of seed germination (28.69%), seed vigor index (39.09), germination power (27.98), germination speed (0.08), root length of seeds (15.5 mm), and maximum length of the seed stem (12.72 mm) was observed in Chal Khalil 1 area, and Chal Khalil 2 area and Peshtkouh 3-Durak 2 were ranked next. The results of comparing the average effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the components of seed germination showed that fungal treatments improved seed germination indices in all different regions (seed provenance) and the lowest germination indices were in the non-inoculation treatment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were observed. The results showed that mixed inoculation treatment had the greatest effect on the indicators of seed germination seed vigor index (39.20), germination strength (22.38 %), root length (11.66 mm), and stem length (13.76 mm) compared to other treatments. Funneliformis mosseae mycorrhizal fungus treatment also showed the best performance in seed germination speed index (0.45). Also, in all different seed genotypes, the highest percentage of germination belonged to the arbuscular mycorrhizal Funneliformis mosseae treatment (22.55%).

Conclusion: In general, the results showed that the source of seed collection and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were effective in the growth and establishment of Mahlab species seeds. Seed inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi causes the cultivation of healthy and resistant seedlings by increasing and improving the speed, strength, and percentage of seed germination, seed vigor index, and roots length and stem length of Mahlab species seedlings. Therefore, these fungi can be used for the sustainable mass propagation of Mahlab species.