Effect of Rhizophagus irregularis on Growth of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Eastern Morocco

Abstract

Rimani, M., I. Mzabri, K. Charif, Z. Chafik and E. Kharmach. 2022. Effect of Rhizophagus irregularis on Growth of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Eastern Morocco. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 40(2): 182-187. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-040.2.182187 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form mutualistic relationships with plant roots and can act as bio-fertilizers. In the same perspective, a study was conducted to investigate the possibility of a possible constitutive association of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis L. (previously named Glomus intraradices) with saffron. The trial was conducted in the field at the experimental station of the Faculty of Sciences of Oujda (Morocco) by applying 3 doses of R. irregularis inoculum: 2, 4 and 6 ml per corm (T1, T2 and T3 treatments). Six months after planting, morphological, biochemical and mycorrhization parameters were measured. The results showed that the inoculation of saffron roots by R. irregularis was successful, which induced a significant increase in the number of leaves, the weight of stigmas and the percentage of daughter corms with large diameter. Similarly, the total chlorophyll content was increased, the highest value was recorded for the T3 treatment in April (0.04 mg/g MF), with an increase of 25% compared to the control. Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), inoculum, root colonization, total chlorophyll content, Rhizophagus irregularis, saffron.