Hydraulic conductivity in mycorrhisated prunus plants

We report beneficial effects of some Glomeromicota fungi on plant water relations and growth. We tested the hypothesis that mycorrhiza can influence the conductance (i.e. reduces resistances) in water uptake and transport of inoculated plants. Myrobolan 29C micropropagated rootstocks were treated with commercial Glomus intraradices, during the acclimatisation stage in the nursery, and grafted (apricot cultivar) by chip budding technique. Hydraulic conductance was measured in rootstock and rootstock + grafting point by a Hydraulic Conductance Flow Meter. The rootstock conductivity of the inoculated plants was double, compared to the control, reaching the value of 1.4 × 10-7 kg s-1 MPa-1 g-1. The conductivity of the rootstock + grafting point combination of the inoculated plants was 5-times, than the controls. Data on persistence of fungal infection on roots in pots are also presented.