Effects of mycorrhizal fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescens Bacteria on the growth and survival of Ribes khorasanicum Saghafi & Assadi tissue culture plantlets

Ribes khorasanicum Saghafi & Assadi is considered as one of the valuable medicinal native species of Razavi Khorasan province that is distributed across high-altitudes of Hezar Masjed Mountains in a small range of Dargaz and Kalat cities as scattered patches. Because of human interference, high ecological requirements and low seeds germination this species is currently endangered and as even considered to be prone to extinction. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of symbiotic microorganisms in the growth and survival of plantlets produced by tissue culture techniques. For this purpose a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Mycorrhiza fungi treatments included treatments without mycorrhiza, those with Rhizophagus interaradics, Glomus mosseae, as well as R. interaradics G. mosseae and fungus that were separated from the test site. Bacteria treatments included those without bacteria and those with Pseudomonas fluorescens inoculation. The results showed that bacteria inoculation could improve survival, crown area and number of leaves. The results also showed that the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi separated from the site habitat improved root colonization, survival, height, number of leaves and crown area. Furthermore, the combination of mycorrhizal fungi R. intraradices G. mosseae improved the survival rate. It was concluded that the inoculation of fungi and bacteria improved plant acclimatization in ex vitro conditions.