Mycorrhization in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis and E. oleifera x E. guineensis) in the pre-nursery stage

The symbiosis between oil palm roots and arbuscular mycor- rhiza (AM)-forming fungi is an important aspect of the biology of the crop. Here, we describe the mycorrhization process and the effect of an inoculation with Glomus intraradices on plant growth during the pre-nursery stage of plants of E. guineensis and the interspecific hybrid E. oleifera x E. guineensis, under the agro-ecologica l conditions of the Colombian Eastern Plains. The total percentage of mycorrhization over time and the accumulated dry biomass were measured at the end of the pre-nursery stage. The progress of the colonization process of seedlings inoculated with Glomus intraradices was compared with the progress of non-inoculated seedlings, in both auto- claved and non-autoclaved soil. Measurements of colonization were performed on semi-permanent micro-preparations of cleared and stained rootlets. Quantifications were done using the intercept field method, which differentiates arbuscules, hyphae, vesicles and spores. Root colonization started 1 month after sowing (mas). At the end of the pre-nursery stage (3 mas), arbuscule and hyphal networks were established, especially in E. guineensis seedlings. An increase in dry weight of seedlings of this species was found in response to inoculation with a commercial source of AM. The results suggest that inoculation with AM at early stages of oil palm may potentially increase the vigor of seedlings transplanted to the main nursery.