Effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth of Catalpa bungei

Background: Catalpa bungei is a well-known, valuable, ornamental, high-quality timber tree traditionally cultivated in China because of its excellent quality, decay resistance, wide applicability, and attractive form. The aim this study was to evaluate the effects inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on transplant survival rate growth C. seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Methods: Two treatments were applied completely randomized experimental design: Rhizophagus intraradices, and, as control, soil without inoculum. Results: Four months after inoculation, AMF had colonized 76.05% plant roots significantly improved growth. With establishment symbiotic relationship, seedling by 20%, promoted major traits (plant height, basal diameter, leaf area, specific area), accelerated biomass accumulation (roots, stems, leaves), changed allocation patterns. In addition, compared non-inoculated treatments, increased photosynthetic parameters chlorophyll contents, elevated root morphological parameters, proportion particle sizes micro-aggregates, nutrients leaves. Conclusions: survival, development more pronounced inoculated R. intraradices. Mycorrhizal can therefore be widely transplantation production practices.