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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190888
Title: EFFECT OF FLOODING ON ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL COLONIZATION IN SNAP BEAN PLANTS

Author
item SAH, SEEMA - FLORIDA INTL. UNIV.
item REED, STEWART
item JAYACHANDRAN, KRISH - FLORIDA INTL. UNIV.

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2005
Publication Date: 11/6/2005
Citation: Sah, S.K., Reed, S.T., Jayachandran, K. 2005. Effect of flooding on arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in snap bean plants. American Society of Agronomy Meetings.

Interpretive Summary: n

Technical Abstract: Flooding is a common problem in crop production in south Florida. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi maintain a symbiotic relation with more than 90% of vascular plants, including snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L). Mycorrhizal fungi affect plant physiology and growth. However, flooding may inhibit mycorrhizal colonization in native wetland grasses. The effects of flooding on mycorrhizal associations with agronomic crops is unclear. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the effects of short-term flooding on mycorrhizal colonization in snap bean. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the colonization rate of AM fungi and their effects on growth in snap bean plants grown under flooded conditions. Two randomized design experiments, each with one level of flooding, imposed at either of two different dates, and four different mycorrhizal mixes were set up in the greenhouse. Beginning at either 13 or 27 days after planting (DAP) plants were flooded to 1cm above the soil surface for eight hours every seven days. Plants were harvested 30 DAP and 45 DAP for the 13 and 27 day flood initiation treatments, respectively. Percent colonization, mycorrhizal root lengths, plant height, plant biomass, leaf area, photosynthetic rate, and total carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the differences between treatments. We will discuss the effects of short-term flooding on mycorrhizal colonization and plant growth.