The role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in alleviating drought effects on rice (Oryza sativa) productivity

Samenvatting (Engelstalig)

This thesis studied the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alleviating drought effects on rice (Oryza sativa) productivity. The study compared drought tolerance of six rice varieties under conditions of low and increased mycorrhizal fungal colonization and concluded that increased mycorrhizal fungal colonization reduced drought-induced yield losses. In time course study, the stomatal conductance reacted rapidly due to drought, and that the efficiency of photosystem II responded more slowly, and that increased mycorrhizal colonization somewhat mitigated these declines, thereby extending the window of opportunity for recovery after drought. The field experiment did not show a significant mycorrhizal effect on drought tolerance as in pot experiment, possibly due to legacy effects. Lastly, this study investigated a further way of increased mycorrhizal fungal colonization by mixture of two rice varieties. Varietal mixture increased mycorrhizal fungal colonization, and increases in colonization were positively correlated with increases in grain yield.