Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate the most specific and effective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for groundnut and to determine the degree of variability in the response of groundnut varieties to inoculation. The seeds of five varieties: 55-437, Fleur 11, Sunu Gaal, Amoul Morom, and Essamaay were inoculated individually with five AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus aggregatus and Rhizophagus fasciculatus, the indigenous isolates, and Rhizophagus irregularis and Gigaspora rosea, isolated from Canada). Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in a mixture of non-sterile sandy soil and sterilized soil at 120°C for 20 min (1:1, v/v). The results obtained in terms of root AMF colonization and nodule formation showed a positive effect of AMF inoculation in all varieties. Furthermore, we showed that inoculation efficacy did not depend on the origin of the inoculated AMF and no clear relationship was found between the fact that the varieties used were traditional or modern. However, our data indicated that Amoul Morom, Essamay, and 55-437 were more responsive to AMF inoculation, showing the greatest increase in plant growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and yield parameters. The results therefore confirm the functional variation among the inoculated AMF, which is crucial for establishing potential formulations of AMF inoculants to improve groundnut productivity. According to this study, further selection of compatible AMF partners would be useful to improve inoculation success with Fleur 11 and Sunu Gaal.

Key words: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), bioferlilizers, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), symbiotic performance, plant growth, yield parameters.