Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Plant pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
2
Department of Plant Plant pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
3
Pistachio Research Center, Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rafsanjan, Iran
4
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
5
Department of Water and Soil, Deputy Planning Officer of Khorasan Razavi Agricultural Jahad Organization, Mashhad. Iran
6
Department of Plant Plant pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol , Iran
10.22059/ijpps.2025.399624.1007087
Abstract
Armillaria root rot and salinity are among the most significant biotic and abiotic stresses in pistachio orchards, causing substantial economic losses. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant tolerance to both salinity and soil-borne pathogens. This study evaluated the effect of inoculating a mixture of three AMF species (Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Funneliformis mosseae, and Rhizophagus irregularis) on Armillaria root rot, growth performance and biochemical traits of Pistacia vera cv. Ahmad-Aghaei seedlings under four salinity levels (0, 1200, 2400, and 3600 mg NaCl per kg of soil). AMF inoculation significantly increased shoot and root dry weight (56.7% and 94.1% respectively), leaf area (25.1%), plant height (11%), chlorophyll content (152.9%), proline (188.5%) and soluble sugars (99.5%) concentration compared to pathogen-inoculated plants across all salinity levels. Although salinity significantly increased pathogen colonization and seedling mortality, AMF markedly reduced both parameters. At the highest salinity level (3600 mg NaCl/ kg of soil), pathogen colonization decreased from 86.8% to 67.9%, and mortality declined from 93.8% to 68.8% in AMF-treated plants. Overally the results demonstrate that AMF inoculation can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of salinity and enhance pistachio seedlings' tolerance to Armillaria root rot by improving growth and biochemical parameters and reducing pathogen colonization.
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