Effect of organic fertilizer and commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of micropropagated date palm cv. Feggouss

Abstract

Date palm is an important crop in Morocco, Tunisia and many other drylands of the world, but its growth is often limited due to the low soil fertility and harsh environmental conditions of oases ecosystems, which can hardly be compensated by the sole application of high dosages of chemical fertilizers. For the first time, we investigated the effects of compost application and inoculation with a commercial strain of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus iranicum, on the growth of micropropagated date palm plantlets (cv. Feggous). After twelve months of growth, plantlets transplanted into compost amended substrate inoculated with AMF showed increased biomass production (root and shoot biomass), chlorophyll and mineral nutrient contents than plantlets transplanted into compost amended substrate or without compost addition. Thus, this inoculum reinforced the promoting effect of compost and was successful in colonizing the root system. According to our results, sandy substrate enriched with compost and inoculated with G. iranicum can be recommended for improving the growth and nutrition of micropropagated date palm plantlets. Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera L., Compost, Mycorrhizal fungi, Organic fertilizer