ABSTRACT

Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) Benth (African locust beans) is an important multipurpose tree legume in tropical and subtropical Africa, used for nutritional and medicinal purposes and valued particularly for its seeds. This study investigated the influence on growth performance of Parkia biglobosa by a tripartite symbiotic association between the tree legume, a bacterium (Rhizobium sp.) and an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus etunicatum). Seeds of the test plant were subjected to four treatment combinations, namely; control (topsoil with no inoculations), topsoil pre-inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus etunicatum) and Rhizobium strain as separate treatments; and a composite treatment (topsoil pre-inoculated with a combination of G. etunicatum and Rhizobium). Measurements of harvested plants height, girth, dry weight, root: shoot ratio, net assimilation rate and relative growth rate were taken and calculated in triplicates as appropriate, bi-weekly, from the 8th to the 18th week after planting. Single inoculations with G. etunicatum and Rhizobium compared with the control in their performance at growth improvement. However, dual inoculation with G. etunicatum and Rhizobium significantly improved (P ? 0.05) plant growth performance. Keywords: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus, Glomus etinicatum, Rhizobium, Parkia biglobosa
Publication date: 01/01/2022

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2022/January/MS_IJBPAS_2022_6201.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2022/11.1.6201