Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ofagrobacterium radiobacter on maize growth

An influence of dual inoculation with the rhizosphere bacteriumAgrobacterium radiobacter, and the VAM fungi,Glomus mosseae andGlomus sp., on maize growth and mycorrhizal infection was observed. Separate inoculations of bacteria or fungi showed significant positive effects on the shoot biomass production of pot-cultured plants only at the last of three consecutive harvests. Plant biomass production was enhanced substantially after a dual inoculation with bacteria and fungi. Synergistic interaction of fungal and bacterial inoculation and growth stimulation was evident at all three harvests compared to uninoculated plants and also compared to plants inoculated with fungi or bacteria only. The dual inoculation increased the shoot biomass of plants by approximately 30% as compared with control. No significant differences were found in mycorrhizal infection between plants uninoculated and inoculated with bacteria.Agrobacterium radiobacter seems to be compatible with mycorrhizal symbiosis and can act a synergistic partner of some VAM fungi.