Abstract
A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the effect of three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus mosseae, G. etunicatum and G. clarum at two levels of phosphorus (P) fertilization (zero and 60 mu g P/g) on plant growth parameters and physiological character of maize plants (Zea mays L.) at seedling stage. The results showed that the best values of all plant growth parameters were recorded at P level (60 mu g P/g) and inoculation with G. etunicatium and G. mosseae (The increase by rate 34.5%; 32.9% and 32.5%; 32.2% respectively) comparing with untreated plants. Also the highest value of plant dry weight was recorded in the presence of inoculation with G. clarum by increasing rate 55.7% comparing with control. On contrast the treatment with P causing decreased in all values of root/shoot ratios comparing with the same treatment in the absent of P fertilization. The highest values of plant P uptake were recorded in the presence of P with inoculation by G. etunicatium, then G. clarum followed by G. mosseae comparing with untreated plants. All treatments in zero P were decreased in values of protein content comparing with P level 60 mu gP/g, and increases in proline values. The highly values of plant chlorophyll content were recorded in the presence of P fertilization and inoculation by G. clarum, then G. etunicatum (8.306, 7.840 unit respectively). On the other hand AMF root colonization% was affected by phosphorus fertilization levels. The highest values of AMF root colonization% (50.5%, 80.3%) were found when plants inoculation with G. etunicatum at both level of P (zero, 60 mu g P/g respectively) followed by G. clarum then G. mosseae. The same results were observed in number of AMF spores/100g of soil. The AMF specie G. etunicatum was recorded as a highest spores numbers (252, 320 spores /100g of soil) at two levels of P followed by G. clarum then G. mosseae. In generally AMF inoculation can be used as biofertilizer to reduce the deficiency effect of phosphorous fertilization on Zea mays L. [Almagrabi O. A. and Abdelmoneim T. S. Using of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Reduce the Deficiency Effect of Phosphorous Fertilization on Maize Plants (Zea mays L.). Life Sci J 2012; 9(4):1648-1654]. (ISSN:1097-8135).http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 253