This work aimed to evaluate the eficiency of four species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the vegetative growth and the nutrient contents of peach tree rootstocks (Prunus persica) cv. Aldrighi. The experiment was conducted at the Estação Experimental Agronômica (EEA) of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Eldorado do Sul, RS, during 2004 and 2005. Four treatments of AMF inoculation strains (Acaulospora sp. Trappe, Glomus clarum Nicol. & Schenck, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerd e Scutellospora heterogama Nicol. & Gerd.) and one with non-inoculated plants were used. A randomized block design was used, with 20 plants per plot and four replicates, totaling 80 plants per treatment. Stem height and diameter, leaf area, fresh and dry biomass of the stem and roots, nutrients and carbohidrate contents and root colonization were evaluate at 180 days after sowing. The use of AMF species benefits plant development of rootstock cv. Aldrighi, and the efficiency of AMF-plant symbiosis is variable according to the inoculated AMF species. The rootstocks inoculated with S. heterogama and G. etunicatum performed best presenting larger vegetative growth and higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium tissue contents.
Prunus persica; endomycorrhiza; nutrition; growth development
