Application effect of bagasse biochar and Arbuscular mychorrhizal fungi in commercial propagation of Sansevieria trifaciata variateis

Introduction: 

Sansevieria trifasciata is a perennial plant from the liliaceae family, which originates from tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world. Sansevieria trifasciata variateis are one of the most popular ornamental indoor plants due to having types with striped leaves. Today, conventional propagation methods are not adequate to meet the marketable requests of Sansevieria trifasciata due to the slow growth of cutting. So, it is conceivable to use rooting and growth stimulator agents. This study aimed to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza and biochar application on some morphophysiological parameters in Sansevieria trifasciata var. cuttings.

Materials and Methods: 

This research was conducted in the greenhouse of the faculty of agriculture and environmental science of Arak University with controlled conditions of 25 ◦C, 70% humidity and 10,000 lux of light. The effect of biochar application (5 and 10%) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum, Glomus intraradices, Glomus mossea) (6 and 12%) was investigated on propagation and growth of Sansevieria trifaciata var. Laurentii and Sansevieria trifaciata var. Moonshine cutting. The experiment was conducted as factorial an in a completely randomized design at three replicates. The leaf cutting with V-shape end were keep on the lab condition for two days to callus initiation of wound surface. Subsequiently, healed cutting were cultured in pots that were containing cocopeat-perlite and different treatments of arbuscular mycorrhiza and biochar. Morphological and physiological traits were measuremed after 8 months of cultivation, which were included rooting and bud stimulation time, roots number and length, length of the longest root, buds number, length, anddiameter, the amount of cutting rot, the number of leaves, the size of callus based on the rating of 1 to 3, fresh weight (FW) of roots and leaves, the dry weight (DW) of roots and leaves, relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll pigment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization was determinded by grid-line intersect method. 

Results and Discussion:

 The results showed that the application of 10% biochar in culture bed had an increasing effect on leaf number, root biomass percentage, root colonization percentage and leaf dry weight in both cultivars but also caused to increase the decay rate of the cuttings of these two cultivars. Application of 6% arbuscular mycorrhizal fingi increased the number of buds, root colonization and bud motivation time, and led to decrease leaf biomass and cuttings rot percentage. The root colonization decreased at lower application level of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar. The maximum root colonization (80%) was observed in the culture medium with 10% biochar and 12% arbuscular mycorrhiza. The application of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the medium of Sansevieria trifaciata cuttings directed to an increase in the biomass compared to the control. The amount of leaf electrolyte leakage of leaf was higher (28.37%) by application of 10% biochar in the culture bed compared with the cuttings treated with 5% biochar and control. Plants from the cuttings grown in the bed containing 10% biochar and 6% mycorrhizal inoculum had the highest number of leaves (2.83). It was approximately two folds compared to the control. The leaf electrolyte leakage was higher (28.37%) than the plants obtained from the cuttings treated with 5% biochar and control by application of 10% biochar. The total chlorophyll content of the leaf in both cultivars increased significantly with the application of different concentrations of biochar compared to the control. Biochar application influenced on microbial biomass through altering the soil porosity, soil moisture and temperature. Also, biochar stimulated plant growth through the positive effects on microbial population. These results suggested that the applications of biochar at an appropriate proportion could change plant growth and microbial community.

Conclusion:

 Biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by establishing a symbiotic relationship between fungus and root, stimulated rooting growth. These treatments were able to root in different cultivars of Sansevieria trifaciata propagation. Root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was depended on the variety of plant. The applied treatments showed more impact on morphological and physiological traits in Sansevieria trifaciata var. Moonshine than that in Sansevieria trifaciata var. Laurentii cultivar. The rotting of Sansevieria trifaciata var. Laurentii cuttings was more than that of the Sansevieria trifaciata var. Moonshine. The best treatment for Sansevieria trifaciata variateis cuttings was application of 5% biochar and 6% arbuscular mycorrhiza and cultured in cocopeat-perlite bed.