Effect of salinity on the association between root symbionts and Acacia cyanophylla Lind.:: growth and nutrition

The behaviour of Acacia cyanophylla Lind. plants submitted to salinity stress was followed in the greenhouse. The plants were associated with indigenous symbiotic microorganisms isolated from the coastal dunes of the Souss-Massa region. A two months period of salinity had a large negative impact on plant growth and acquisition of macro nutrients. However, the study underlined the role of the microbial inoculum for the plant in the achievement of salt tolerance. An isolate of Bradyrhizobium sp., RCM6 (R1), originating from the Massa dunes, was highly efficient in improving growth and nutrition of the A. cyanophylla. Double inoculation with the rhizobia and an endomycorrhizal complex, isolated from the Lamzar dunes had a clear additional positive effect, i.e. the fungi further increased the tolerance of the A. cyanophylla plants to salinity.