Monday, 7 November 2005
13

Effect of Flooding on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Snap Bean Plants.

Seema Sah1, Stewart Reed2, and Krish Jayachandran1. (1) Florida International University, 11315 NW 7th Street Apt. 6, Miami, FL 33172, (2) USDA/ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, Miami , FL, 8500 SW 212th St Apt # 204, Miami, FL 33189-3388

Flooding is a common problem in south Florida and reduces crop production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi maintain a symbiotic relationship with more than 90% of the vascular plants, including snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L). AM fungi regulate plant physiology and growth of the plants. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of flooding on mycorrhizal colonization in snap beans. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the colonization rate of AM fungi and their effects on growth, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis and transpiration rates in snap bean plants, growing under flooded and non-flooded conditions. Two completely randomized design experiments, each with one level of flooding, imposed at either of two different dates, and four levels of mycorrhizal inoculation were set up in the greenhouse. For flood treatments, pots were placed in different tanks and filled with water above 1cm from soil surface for eight hours. Flooding treatments were prior to flowering stage. Plants were harvested at 30 or 45 DAP. Plant height, plant biomass, leaf area, mycorrhizal colonization, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and total carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the differences between treatments. Flooding, inoculation, and their interactions showed significant effect on root colonization in both experiments. Flooding reduced P uptake by mycorrhizal plants compared to non-flooded mycorrhizal plants. There were no significant differences in plant height, photosynthesis and transpiration rates between flooded and non flooded plants.

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