JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION, cilt.32, sa.1, ss.146-159, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
Pistacia is a common wild plant in the Southeast Anatolia part of Turkey. The experiment was planned to screen and select the most suitable arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) for enhancing Pistacia species seedling growth by improving phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) uptake. This study was carried out under greenhouse condition at the Department of Soil Science, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. Two genotypes from each of P. vera (cvs 'Siirt' and 'Kirmizi'), P. eurycarpa, P. atlantica, and P. terebinthus species were tested with ten different mycorrhizal species. Plants were grown in a growth medium with a mixture of sand, soil and compost with 6:3:1 ratio, respectively. Seedling plants were harvested after eight months and transplanted to pots. There were significant differences between Pistacia species in growth, nutrient uptake and the percentage of mycorrhizal infection. Also mycorrhizal species were different in terms of enhancing plant growth and nutrient uptake. The results were that Siirt, Genotype 08, 11, 13, and 14 gave a high response to the mycorrhizal inoculation and Glomus clarium gave the best improvements in growth and nutrition, resulting in greater plant biomass and Zn and P uptake. Following this, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, G. caledonium, and G. mosseae species were effective species. In general, G. mosseae and G. fasciculatum mycorrhizae enhanced plant growth; G. clarium was the most efficient species in terms of P and Zn uptake.