Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth, nutrient uptake and survival of micropropagated agave (Agave marmorata Roezl) plantlets during acclimatization

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi improve the productive capacity of the soil, increasing plant survival and physiological development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different AM fungi doses Rhizophagus intraradices on the survival and physiological development of agave (Agave marmorata Roezl) plantlets during the acclimatization stage. Agave marmorata plantlets were treated with different doses of R. intraradices: 0 (control), 25, 50, 100 and 200 spores per plantlet (s/p). At 150 days of acclimatization stage in the greenhouse, the mycorrhizal colonization, survival percentage, plant development and dry matter were evaluated, as well as the chlorophyll, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) and macro- and micronutrient contents. Mycorrhizal characterization confirmed the colonization of R. intraradices spores in A. marmorata roots. At doses of 100 and 200 s/p, with 76% and 80% mycorrhizal colonization, respectively, an efficient symbiotic interaction was achieved, increasing the survival percentage. In addition, AM fungi had an effect on plantlet development variables, but not for dry matter. The highest chlorophyll and PEP contents were in the 50, 100 and 200 s/p treatments. No effects were observed on RuBP content. AM fungi affected N, P, K, Fe, Mn and B contents, while no significant differences were observed for Mg, Ca, Cu and Zn. The symbiosis between R. intraradices and A. marmorata in greenhouse conditions is an efficient alternative to improve the acclimatization process and could allow conditioning of the plants prior to transplanting in the field.