Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alters content and composition of essential oil of Sage (Salvia officinalis) under different phosphorous levels

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the growth and essential oil content of Salvia officinalis L. (sage) inoculated with two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus clarus and Claroideoglomus etunicatum under different phosphorous (P) levels. The treatments were prepared in a sterile substrate (sand, vermiculite and organic compound (1: 1: 2, v:v) with high (200 mg kg−1) and low (20 mg kg−1) P levels at sowing, with and without AMF inoculation; the experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for four months. Plants were grown in pots with 3 kg of substrate in a 3 x 2 (3 mycorrhizal x 2 levels of P) factorial experiment, in a completely randomized design (with eight repetitions). Spore density, AMF root colonization, plant dry mass, P and N shoot content, yield and composition of essential oil (EO) were determined. Data were processed and submitted to analyses of hierarchical clustering and principal component. Plant biomass increased with addition of P in the substrate. EO content increased with AMF Rhizophagus clarus inoculation in high-P substrate. It was concluded that inoculation with R. clarus and the addition of P at sowing can boost the growth of sage and the content of its EO. Camphor, α-humulene, viridiflorol, manool, α-thujone and β- thujone were the main components of the EO.