Influence of different encapsulation types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on physiological adaptation and growth promotion of maize (Zea mays L.) subjected to water deficit

Abstract

Under drought environment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can serve as a long-term biofertilizer to sustain the water and nutrient availability for the host plants. A study was conducted to check the effect of AMF and the encapsulations of the AMF and an organic fertilizer (Fer) with alginate (Al-FA) and agar-agar (Ag-FA) on maize (Zea mays L.) in response to water deficit conditions. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm) of the maize inoculated with Al-FA and Ag-FA under the water deficit was recorded to be 0.70 and 0.50, respectively. Shoot and root water content of the Al-FA plants were found to be maintained under the water deficit and were better than Ag-FA. Besides, phosphorus content in the root tissues of the Al-FA plants grown under the water deficit stress was 1.56-folds greater than in the Ag-FA plants, thereby promoting the photosynthetic abilities and plant height in the former case. The study indicated that the Al-FA type of encapsulation may perform better than the Ag-FA in case of maize plants, leading to its better development under water limited conditions. © 2019 Academic Press.