Full Length Research Paper

Effects of whey on the colonization and sporulation of arbuscular mycorhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices, in lentil (Lens orientalis)

Semra Demir¹* and Elvan Ozrenk2

¹Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, 65080, Van/Turkey.

²Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Food Engineering, 65080, Van/Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: semrademir@yyu.edu.tr. Fax: +904322251624.

Accepted 20 March, 2009

The aim of this study is to research the effect of 2 different doses of whey [50 ml kg^-1(W₅₀) and 100 ml kg^-1(W₁₀₀)], an important organic waste, on colonization and sporulation of arbuscular mycorhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus intraradices’(G.i.) inoculated to lentil plant and the effects of changing P ratio in the soil and plant as a result of whey application, changing salt, pH and CaCO₃ values on AMF colonization and sporulation. It is found that macro and micro nutrient elements have increased significantly compared to control plants when G.i. and whey are used alone and together. In the studies on whey’s effect on the colonization and sporulation of fungal symbiont, it is found that low dose of whey (W₅₀) increases G. i.‘s colonization and sporulation. Therefore regression analysis found that the effects of P contents in the plant and soil on AMF, especially on colonization are statistically significant and positive in some applications (G.i + W₅₀, G.i + W₁₀₀), but the effects of soil pH, saltiness and CaCO₃ content on both the colonization and sporulation are statistically insignificant.

Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), whey, colonization, spore density.