Effects of different types of mycorrhiza on the development and the elemental content of lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

The effects of different types of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the root inoculation and plant elemental content of lupin (Lupinus albus L.) were investigated in the present study. The growth and development of lupin were examined to determine the species of AM fungi that can help to grow lupin with a high protein content and economic value. In this study, which was carried out as a pot experiment under controlled greenhouse conditions, first the pots were inoculated with Glomus geosporum, Glomus mosseae, Glomus caledonium, Glomus etunicatium mycorrhizal spores and then lupin (Lupinus albus) seeds were sown. The plants were watered with pure water during the experiment. The trial was terminated after a 60-day plant gowing period. In the study, inoculation occurred at lupin roots at rates varying between 13.3 and 30.0%. However, there was no statistically significant difference among the types of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi applied to the plant in the inoculation rate. The examination of the effect of the application of different AM (Glomus geosporum, Glomus mosseae, Glomus caledonium, Glomus etunicatium) spore on the plant development showed that AM inoculation did not have an effect on the lupin development. The effect of AM inoculation on the plant’s nutrient content revealed no significant difference in the content of crude protein, P and K, while demonstrating a significant increase in the sulphur and magnesium content versus the control. The plant content of crude protein varied between 185.6 and 226.5 (g kg-1), phosphorus – 0.61-0.74 (g kg-1) and potassium – 9.6-11.1 (g kg-1). The concentrations of Zn, Cu, B and Mo in lupin did not show statistically significant modifications caused by the inoculation of different types of AM. However, the plant Mn content showed a decrease due to AM inoculation, whereas a significant increase was observed in the Na content after AM inoculation. AM fungi were observed in plant roots after the inoculation with any of the four different types of mycorrhiza. But no positive effects of mycorrhizal inoculation were not observed on crude protein and the uptake of plant nutrients.