EFFECTS OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ON GROWTH, NUTRITION AND QUALITY PARAMETERS OF THYME (Origanum onites L.) UNDER DROUGHT STRESS CONDITION
Project no. 22652 · Status: Kapanmış · 2021
Summary
<p>Thyme (<em>Origanum onites</em> L.) is a perennial and herbaceous herb, which has been grown for centuries for medicinal, cosmetic and culinary purposes. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. It is used as a raw medicine, pain reliever, sedative and general oral antiseptic in the treatment of respiratory diseases, hypertension and high cholesterol. Drought is one of the most important stresses for agricultural crops. Cultivated thyme affected by several environmental stresses that limit its quality and yield efficiency. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) have the symbiotic relationship with the roots of most plants not only promote plant growth, but also increases plant tolerance against different abiotic stresses including salinity, drought and high temperature. In this study, the effect of AM fungus on yield and growth parameters, different nutrient content as well as the essential oil ratio of thyme under drought stress conditions were evaluated. The factorial experiment including 24 treatments with two factors, irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) and mycorrhizal fungus (with mycorrhiza, without mycorrhiza) was set up in a complete randomized design with 3 replicates. The results showed that plant fresh and dry weight parameters were increased in AMF-inoculated plants rather than non-inoculated ones, which confirms the positive effects of AMF inoculation. In addition, there are significant increase in K, N, Na and Fe contents in AMF-inoculated plants. However, no significant difference was observed in Ca, P and Mg contents. The essential oil ratio was also increased significantly in AMF-inoculated plants. The fungal spore numbers as well as fungal colonization percentage were also significantly decreased with increasing water stress conditions.</p>