The mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae enhances growth, yield and chemical composition of a durum wheat variety in 10 different soils

The effect of the vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (VAMF) Glomus mosseae on growth, yield and nutrients' uptake of the durum wheat variety 'Sifnos' was investigated in ten different soils. Inoculation had a positive effect on tillering, improved plant growth up to 11.6 times and increased grain yield up to 5.4 times as compared to non-inoculated plants. The thousand kernels weight was improved by up to 60%. The analysis of shoot tissue of the mycorrhizal plants showed that P concentration was increased up to 4 fold, while the K, Ca and Mg uptake was similar for both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. The concentrations of the trace elements Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu were lower in the mycorrhizal plants compared to that of non-inoculated ones. The P and Mg concentration of the grains produced by the inoculated plants was increased while the Ca concentration was decreased. The concentration of the heavy metals was either decreased ( Mn, Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb) or remained unchanged (Zn, Cu). The colonization in the roots ranged from 23 to 78%.