INFLUENCE OF VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI (GLOMUS SPP) ON THE RESPONSE OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS-SATIVUS L) TO SALT STRESS

The role of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in the protection of cucumber plants against salt stress induced by sodium chloride (NaCl) was studied. Plants were subjected to salt stress by exposing the root systems to increasing salt concentrations and then allowed to recover in distilled water. Rate of wilting was positively correlated with salt concentration, and plant recovery was negatively correlated with salt concentration. Two of the three VAM fungi tested were able to protect the plants from salt stress compared to the non-VAM plants. The ability to protect the plants from salt stress was not correlated with the growth promoting effect of the three VAM fungi.