A. N. Mokashi

Salt Tolerance in Grapes: Response of Arbuscular Mycorrhyzal Fungus (Glomus Fasciculatum) Inoculated Grape Rootstocks to Varying Levels of Soil Salinity A. N. Mokashi

Soil salinity is a wide spread problem, restricting plant growth and biomass production especially in arid, semi-arid and tropical areas. Various studies have shown that salinity has osmotic, toxic and nutritional effects on grapes. However, the severity of salt damage has been found to be dependent on the salinity level of the environment, the growth stage of the plant and the cultivars in terms of scion and rootstock as the plant species have demonstrated a wide degree of variation in their abilities to accumulate, exclude, or withstand the toxic effects of individual ions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a critical component in agricultural systems because these organisms can increase plant growth, plant reproductive capacity, plant water stress tolerance, and plant health through antagonistic and competitive effects on pests and pathogens. Inoculation with AMF has been recommended to help supply phosphorus from the soil and assist in uptake of micronutrients such as zinc, copper, manganese and iron and enhance uptake of macronutrients such as nitrogen and magnesium.