Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Seedling Growth and Physiological Traits of Melilotus officinalis L. Grown Under Salinity Stress Conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation on the leaf relative water content (LRWC), survival capacity, mycorrhizal dependency (MD), essential oil content and total protein content of Melilotus officinalis grown in a greenhouse under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial arrangement design using five replications. Zero (0), 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and two AM fungal levels were applied. Control (without inoculation) and inoculated (with AM fungi) treatments were considered two mycorrhizal levels. LRWC and survival capacity values in AM Melilotus officinalis were significantly higher than that in the non-AM-inoculated plants. Generally, MD, essential oil content and total protein content values were significantly higher in the AM-inoculated Melilotus officinalis compared with the non-AM-inoculated plants in all treatments. Results suggest that Melilotus officinalis could be used for the economic usage of the saline lands.