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Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Eksteen, Christo Frederik
Other Authors: Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author Eksteen, Christo Frederik
author2 Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas
author_browse Eksteen, Christo Frederik
Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas
author_facet Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas
Eksteen, Christo Frederik
author_sort Eksteen, Christo Frederik
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/110052
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:45:35.384Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/110052 Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape Eksteen, Christo Frederik Swanepoel, Pieter Andreas Phiri, Ethel E. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Agronomy. Wheat Wheat -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Western Cape Wheat -- Soils Wheat -- Disease and pest resistance -- South Africa Biofertiliser Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Wheat -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Western Cape Agricultural conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape Wheat -- Effect of salt on Soil salinization UCTD Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the main cereal crop being planted in the Western Cape of South Africa and is also accounts for over 40% of the world’s cereal. Wheat can be grown under a variety of environmental conditions but remains susceptible to adverse temperature and soil conditions. Sustainable methods of crop management such as biofertiliser application, could improve plant adaptability and grain yields in areas affected by droughts and other strenuous environmental conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are one of themost well-known and researched symbiotic organisms in agriculture. The range of benefits AMF provides to a diverse range of crops are indisputable based on both greenhouse and field trials. Despite this, region specific field data is lacking and is necessary to determine if AMF application is viable in a certain area. This study ventured to determine if AMF application in wheat systems would result in colonisation of wheat crops in multiple locations in the Western Cape and the effects of AMF application on plant and yield components. Commercially available AMF products were used in the application process with various strains of mycorrhizal fungi including Glomus intraradices, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum. Several plant and root parameters were measured throughout the growing season including aboveground and belowground biomass as well as grain yield. This study demonstrated that both naturally occurring AMF and applied AMF propagules, were able to colonise wheat plants in the Western Cape. Colonisation was variable across all treatments and sites but were easily visible when root samples were stained and observed under a microscope. Yield increases were observed between AMF treatments and control treatments at the Piketberg (Year 1) and Langgewens (Year 2) trial sites. This observation provides evidence to affirm that AMF application could be beneficial to crop production in the Western Cape. Producers looking to mitigate drought risk and increase grain yields in a sustainable manner would benefit from applying AMF to their soils and ensuring that conservation agriculture practices be followed to maintain the AMF network in the soil. Masters 2021-02-23T12:04:00Z 2021-04-21T14:38:10Z 2021-02-23T12:04:00Z 2021-04-21T14:38:10Z 2021-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110052 en_ZA en_ZA Stellenbosch University ix, 67 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Wheat
Wheat -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Wheat -- Soils
Wheat -- Disease and pest resistance -- South Africa
Biofertiliser
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Wheat -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Agricultural conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Wheat -- Effect of salt on
Soil salinization
UCTD
Eksteen, Christo Frederik
Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title_full Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title_fullStr Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title_full_unstemmed Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title_short Wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the Western Cape
title_sort wheat response to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi application in the western cape
topic Wheat
Wheat -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Wheat -- Soils
Wheat -- Disease and pest resistance -- South Africa
Biofertiliser
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Wheat -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Agricultural conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Wheat -- Effect of salt on
Soil salinization
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110052
work_keys_str_mv AT eksteenchristofrederik wheatresponsetoarbuscularmycorrhizalfungiapplicationinthewesterncape