Potentials of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungus in Tolerating Drought in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Efforts have been made to enhance the growths and yields in maize by investigating the influence of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Gigaspora gigantea) on the tolerance of maize to drought stress. The experiment was conducted in the teaching and research farm of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design with four replicates. Data were collected on eight morphological drought related characters. This paper aims to evaluate the morpho-agronomic responses and potential of Gigaspora gigantea colonization in maize drought tolerance, and also to select parents in maize breeding for improved yield related components. The combined analysis of variance showed significant (P < 0.05) treatment effect on majority of the traits evaluated. The treatments of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungus (AMF) produced significant higher growth related traits suggesting that AMF treated plants had higher potential in influencing the tolerance to drought.