The objective of this research, carried out under greenhouse conditions was to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum and Glomus clarum) inoculation and P levels (0, 50, 100 e 200 mg/kg of soil) on maize (Zea mays L.) root system morphology, cultivar BR 201, and P plant concentration in two harvest period (18 and 104 days after sowing) in disinfested dystrophic Dark-Red Latosol. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions at Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Milho e Sorgo, in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi increased root dry weight, number of first and second order lateral roots and P concentration in the plant, but decreased root/shoot dry weight ratio and number of root hairs. These effects were affected by P concentration in the soil and by mycorrhizal fungi species. Root dry weight of inoculated plants showed significative (P<=0.05) correlation to root colonization to seminal and adventitious roots. Number of first and second orders lateral roots also showed significative (P<=0.05) correlation to root colonization. Glomus etunicatum was most efficient in all P levels, but high P levels reduced these effects for both fungi species due to reduction on mycorrhizal colonization.
mycorrhizae; inoculation methods; concentrating
