Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi against Charcoal Rot of Sesame and Optimized Fertilization for Enhancing Growth, Productivity, and Nutrient Uptake

Ahmed, Hoda A.M.; Amro, Ahmed; Mahdy, Ahmed Y.; Imara, Doaa A

doi:10.21608/ejp.2023.229040.1102

Potential of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi against Charcoal Rot of Sesame and Optimized Fertilization for Enhancing Growth, Productivity, and Nutrient Uptake

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12619, Giza, Egypt.

² Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt.

³ Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Egypt.

⁴ Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejp.2023.229040.1102

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) individually and combined with fertilization levels of superphosphate (SP) in rock phosphate form and potassium sulfate (PS) on sesame plant growth, productivity, and nutrient uptake. Results showed that AMF inoculation combined with different SP and PS rates significantly decreased seedling root rot and charcoal rot diseases compared with untreated control. Also, root colonization with AMF of sesame was high in the plants treated with SP at the low-level AMF+SP (2.0), which was more and significantly effective for decreasing disease incidence gradually with increasing the fertility level of SP. The yield components of sesame plants treated with AMF in the presence of SP and RF levels significantly increased compared to the control of non-treated plants. The results showed that the AMF increased the nutrient uptake of (PO4, K, and Na in shoots and roots. AMF also can enhance the activity of enzymes involved in synthesizing sucrose, an essential sugar in plant metabolism, while reducing the activity of enzymes involved in the breakdown of sucrose. The AMF can increase levels of soluble sugars, proteins, and amino acid production in the plant. In conclusion, sesame cultivation in the presence of AMF with low SP and PS fertilizers can improve plant growth, nutrient uptake, and production.

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