Investigation of the presence and infection rates of natural vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in tarsus vineyards

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi establish symbiotic relationships with grapevine roots, thereby enhancing water and nutrient uptake, strengthening plants' tolerance to stress conditions such as drought and salinity, and contributing to plant nutrition. This study aims to determine the presence, abundance, and diversity of natural mycorrhizal fungi in Tarsus vineyard soils and to evaluate their interactions with different grape rootstocks through controlled inoculation experiments. Soil and root samples were collected from different vineyard areas through a survey study, and the density of mycorrhizal spores in 10 grams of soil and the infection rates (%) in vine roots were determined. The morphological and molecular identification of the isolated spores was performed, and these were propagated in sorghum plants and inoculated into rootstocks (110-Richter, 140-Ruggeri, 1103 Paulsen, and Kober 5BB) to determine their spore density in the soil and their performance in colonizing seedlings. Two mycorrhizal species (Funneliformis coronatum and Septoglomus jasnowskae) were identified in the vineyards of the district, and F. coronatum was found to be the predominant species. The mycorrhizal spore density in the vineyard soils of the district ranged from 38 to 96 (spores/10 g soil), and the infection rates in grapevine roots varied between 23% and 63%. F. coronatum infected sorghum roots more extensively, and its spore density in the soil was higher than in the control. Inoculation of these species into grapevine rootstocks significantly increased root fresh and dry weights compared to the control. While there was no difference in spore density produced in potting soil between the 110-Richter and 140-Ruggeri rootstocks of the two species, F. coronatum produced more spores than S. jasnowskae on Kober-5BB and 1103-Paulsen rootstocks. However, there was no difference in the percentage of infection of these species in the Kober-5BB and 1103-Paulsen rootstocks. F. coronatum was superior to S. jasnowskae in infecting 140-Ruggeri, while the opposite was true for the 110-Richter rootstock. Considering that the mycorrhizal species in this study were isolated from vineyards under conventional farming practices, it was found that the two species could be propagated and used in the production of potted vine seedlings in mixtures or included in the contents of commercial preparations for use in vineyards.