Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus on Growth and Physiological Parameters of Rough Lemon Rootstock under Water Deficit Conditions

Rootstocks are of primary importance to the citrus industry. Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri L.) is one of major and widely used rootstocks in Citrus production. The experiment was a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The factors were mycorrhizal treatments at two levels (inoculation with Glomus mosseae and control) and irrigation treatments in 4 irrigation intervals (2, 4, 6 and 8 days). Water deficit decreased shoot and root dry weights and decreasing effect was more on the shoot. As water deficit levels increased, root colonization, leaf water potential and chlorophyll content decreased, but leaf temperature increased. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus increased root colonization, shoot and root dry weights, chlorophyll content and leaf water potential, while decreased leaf temperature in comparison with non mycorrhizal treatments.