Effects of AMF inoculation on the growth, photosynthesis and root physiological morphology of root-pruned Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings.

This article investigates the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), specifically Funneliformis mosseae strain BGC XJ07A, on the physiological growth of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings subjected to varying degrees of taproot pruning. Using a three-compartment pot system, the study found that AMF inoculation mitigated the negative impacts of root pruning by enhancing seedling biomass, photosynthetic capacity, and root morphological traits, including root length and surface area. AMF also modulated endogenous root hormones—cytokinin, gibberellins, indole-3-acetic acid, and abscisic acid—correlating with improved root development and biomass accumulation. Additionally, AMF improved soil properties by increasing nutrient availability and organic matter content around the seedlings. These findings suggest that AMF symbiosis can alleviate root pruning stress and support sustainable forest cultivation practices involving R. pseudoacacia.