The effect of inoculation of melia volkensii seedlings with endomycorrhiza

Abstract

Isolation of endomycorrhiza (vescicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) spores from five semi arid sites of Kenya revealed that the soils differed in their spore populations. No relationship was found between the spore populations and the pH nitrogen and phosphorus content of the soils. Inoculation of M. volkensii seedlings with vescicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) derived from Mwingi and Kiambere soils significantly increased height growth. Mycorrhiza infection was also high on inoculated seedlings in sterile soil. Slight infection was found on seedlings in unsterile soils that were not inoculated. The results indicate that inoculation of seedlings may be useful especially under adverse soil conditions.