TAF PUBLISHING

This study was carried out to assess the response of young cork oak plants inoculated by nine fungal isolates (Russul sp. Lactar controversus, Amanita pantherina, Cortinarius sp., Hebeloma sp., Boletus sp., Lactarius volemus, Inocybe sp. and Scleroderma sp.) to water deficit. Acorns were used as plant material. They were provided from canton "A" of the Maamora forest, harvested in Decem ber, and soaked in water for 24 hours before planting. As fungal material, 9 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Russula sp., Lactarius volemus, Lactarius controversus, Inocybe sp., Scleroderma sp., Amanita pantherina, Cortinarius sp., Hebe loma sp., Boletus sp) have been used for the prepa- ration of the inocula. The results showed that controlled mycorrhization significantly improves plants tolerance to drought stress. Boletus sp. was the most efficient isolate that procured to cork oak seedlings a better stomat- acal conductance, root and shoot dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Also, the leaf water potential, proline, and anthocyanin accumulation were lower in seedlings with Boletus inoculation. After the drought stress stage, cork oak plants have been rehydrated, and again, Boletus sp. produced a mean recovery of 60% while it was only 1% in plant control. These data clearly show that the inoculation of cork oak plants with ectomycorrhizal isolates, such as Boletus sp. could be a very interesting pathway in the sandy soils of Maamora and subsequently in determining the success of its regeneration programs.