Table 1. Percentage root colonization, spore density, and hyphal length density in different P treatments and at different growth stages.
| Growth stage | Treatment | Root length colonization (%RLC) | Arbuscular colonization (%AC) | Hyphal colonization (%HC) | Hyphal length density (m g−1) | Spore density (g−1 soil) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | Control | 29.04 ± 2.53b | 8.24 ± 3.22cd | 12.65 ± 2.84bc | 1.23 ± 0.12bc | 7.21 ± 1.10ab |
| P25 | 16.40 ± 3.99bc | 0.86 ± 0.47d | 5.66 ± 2.17c | 1.77 ± 0.16a | 6.38 ± 0.41abc | |
| P100 | 11.10 ± 1.43c | 0.80 ± 0.52d | 3.06 ± 0.75c | 1.48 ± 0.09abc | 6.16 ± 0.98abc | |
| V13 | Control | 54.23 ± 7.49a | 20.44 ± 4.73ab | 32.92 ± 9.72a | 1.45 ± 0.16abc | 7.93 ± 1.22a |
| P25 | 46.85 ± 2.70a | 13.46 ± 1.80bc | 25.24 ± 1.47ab | 1.29 ± 0.25abc | 6.22 ± 0.77abc | |
| P100 | 42.59 ± 6.04a | 15.86 ± 3.77bc | 26.64 ± 6.49ab | 1.15 ± 0.07c | 7.28 ± 0.77ab | |
| R4 | Control | 43.56 ± 1.70a | 18.63 ± 1.73b | 22.93 ± 1.55ab | 1.32 ± 0.05abc | 5.78 ± 0.72abc |
| P25 | 53.56 ± 1.80a | 28.33 ± 2.13a | 29.10 ± 0.62a | 1.67 ± 0.22ab | 4.73 ± 0.45bc | |
| P100 | 23.95 ± 2.75bc | 8.60 ± 1.85cd | 12.47 ± 2.42bc | 1.29 ± 0.13abc | 3.86 ± 0.25c | |
| Analysis of variance | ||||||
| P fertilization level | ** | * | ns | ns | ns | |
| Growth stage | *** | *** | *** | ns | ** | |
| P fertilization level × Growth stage | * | ** | ns | ns | ns | |
Data are mean values ± SE (n = 4). Significant differences among P treatments and growth stage within each variable were tested using Duncan’s multiple range test (p < 0.05) and are indicated by different letters. Two-way ANOVA was used to represent the main and interactive effects of P treatments and growth stage on each mycorrhizal parameter. Control: zero fertilizer P; P25: low-P treatment; P100: high-P treatment. V6, V13 and R4 refer to 6-leaf collar, 13-leaf collar and kernel dough during maize growth period. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ns, not significant.