Sand Particle Size and Phosphorus Amount Affect Rhizophagus irregularis Spore Production Using In Vitro Propagated Spore as a Starter Inoculum in Rhizosphere of Maize (Zea mays) Plantlets

Microbial inoculants, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, have great potential for sustainable crop management. In this study, monoxenic culture of indigenous R. irregularis was developed and used as a tool to determine the minimum phosphorus (P) level for maximum spore production under the in vitro conditions. This type of starter AM fungal inoculum was then applied to an in vivo substrate-based mass-cultivation system. Spore production, colonization rate, and plant growth were examined in maize (Zea mays L.) plant inoculated with the monoxenic culture of R. irregularis in sand graded by particle size with varying P levels in nutrient treatments. In the in vitro culture, the growth medium supplemented with 20 mu M P generated the maximum number of spores (400 spores/mL media) of R. irregularis. In the in vivo system, the highest sporulation (approximate to 500 spores g(-1) sand) occurred when we added a half-strength Hoagland solution (20 mu M P) in the sand with particle size between 500 mu m and 710 mu m and omitted P after seven weeks. However, the highest colonization occurred when we added a half-strength Hoagland solution in the sand with particle sizes between 710 mu m and 1000 mu m and omitted P after seven weeks. This study suggests that substrate particle size and P reduction and regulation might have a strong influence on the maximization of sporulation and colonization of R. irregularis in sand substrate-based culture.