Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on rhizosphere organic acid content and microbial activity of trifoliate orange under different low P conditions

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can improve plant phosphorus (P) uptake; however, information about how AM fungi affect rhizosphere organic acid and microbial activity to alleviate citrus low P stress is limited. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of AM fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices, Ri) inoculation on rhizosphere organic acid content, microbial biomass (MB) and enzyme activity of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) seedlings grown under three low P conditions. The results showed that mycorrhizal seedlings all recorded higher P concentrations, plant biomass and better root morphology with more lateral and fine roots, but lower root mass ratios, irrespective of P conditions. Mycorrhizal P absorption contribution did not differ significantly among three P conditions. Mycorrhizal seedling rhizosphere soil exhibited lower organic acid content, soil organic P content and ratio of MB-carbon (C)/MB-P, but higher MB and enzyme activity. Additionally, the main organic acids showed a negative relationship with mycorrhizal colonization rate and hyphal length; however, phosphatase and phytase activity had a significantly positive relationship with MB. Therefore, the results suggest that AM fungi inoculation may help citrus to efficiently utilize organic P source by improving microbial activity under low available P conditions.