Effects of a Composite Endomycorrhizal Inoculum on Mycorrhization Susceptibility and the Growth of Iris germanica Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

Abstract

To promote the growth of aromatic and medicinal Iris germanica plants, the germinated rhizomes were inoculated with a composite endomycorrhizal inoculum. After 4 months, the endomycorrhizal fungi were able to stimulate the development of the inoculated plants' aerial parts and to mycorrhizal their roots, the mycorrhization frequency (%F) was equal to 100%. Comparatively, the nil mycorrhization and the weakest growth were noted in the control plants. After 10 months, the %F of inoculated plants was established at 80% and the Iris plants showed the highest values of agronomic parameters. The leaves'length, the roots' length, the vegetative, roots and rhizome weights compared to the control plants were respectively equal to 20.76/9.08 cm; 38.25/23.75 cm;20.3/2.83 g; 25.56/7.6 g and 14.76/10.73 g.Iris plants contracted an association with different structures, intra and extraradicular hyphae, vesicles and spores of five genera's arbuscular mycorrhizae morphotypes: Glomus, Rhizophagus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora andScutellospora.