The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is considered as an effective approach to enhance plants’ growth; nevertheless, its efficacy may vary with the type of inoculum and its application method. The present study, for the first time, investigates the effects of different mycorrhizal species applied through different methods on morpho-physiological growth, root system architecture, nutrient uptake, and root exudates of maize. Four AM fungi species viz., Claroideoglomus etunicatum (C.E), Rhizophagus intraradices (R.I), Funneliformis mosseae (F.M), and Diversispora versiformis (D.V) were applied to maize through seed coating, soil application, or seed coating+ soil application. A control without AM fungi was maintained for comparison. All the thirteen treatments were arranged in completely randomized design with three replications. Application of C.E, R.I, F.M, and D.V through different methods triggered the growth performance of maize by improving morpho-physiological characteristics and root morphology, modulating AM fungi colonization, enhancing the nutrient (N, P, K) uptake, and reducing the root exudates (oxalic, malonic, fumaric, malic, citric, and T-aconitic) compared with control. Among the different mycorrhizal species, F.M applied particularly through seed coating+ soil application was more effective in regulating maize growth as compared with C.E, R.I, or D.V species owing to better root system, higher root colonization, and greater nutrient uptake in this treatment. Interestingly, seed coating of F.M recorded statistically similar or higher shoot and root growth attributes compared with soil application particularly at 30 days after sowing. In crux, F.M applied through seed coating + soil application performed better than that of other mycorrhizal species. The obtained results also suggest that seed coating can be a cheap, viable, and efficient delivery system of AM fungi particularly for large scale application, as AM fungi seed coating had faster and greater effect on maize growth compared with soil application during early growth stages.

丛枝菌根（AM）真菌的使用被认为是促进植物生长的有效方法。但是，其功效可能会因接种物的种类和使用方法而异。本研究首次探讨了通过不同方法施用的不同菌根种类对玉米形态生理生长，根系结构，养分吸收和根系分泌物的影响。四种AM真菌，即Claroideoglomus etunicatum（CE），Rhizophagus intraradices（RI），Funneliformis mosseae（FM）和Diversispora versiformis（DV）通过种子包衣，土壤施用或种子包衣+土壤施用被施用于玉米。维持无AM真菌的对照以进行比较。所有的13种治疗方法均按完全随机的设计安排，重复3次。CE，RI，FM和DV通过不同方法的应用通过改善形态生理特性和根系形态，调节AM真菌定植，增强养分（N，P，K）的吸收并减少根系，从而触发了玉米的生长性能。渗出液（草酸，丙二酸，富马酸，苹果酸，柠檬酸和T乌头酸）与对照相比。在不同的菌根物种中，由于根系更好，与CE，RI或DV相比，FM特别是通过种子包衣+土壤施用更有效地调节了玉米的生长，在这种处理中，更高的根部定植和更多的养分吸收。有趣的是，与土壤施用相比，FM的种子包衣在统计上显示出相似或更高的枝条和根部生长特性，尤其是在播种后30天。在症结中，通过种皮+土壤施用的FM效果优于其他菌根物种。获得的结果还表明，种子包衣可以是AM真菌的便宜，可行和有效的传递系统，特别是对于大规模应用而言，因为与早期生长阶段的土壤施用相比，AM真菌种子包衣对玉米的生长具有更快，更大的影响。与土壤施用相比，M记录的芽和根生长属性在统计上相似或更高，尤其是在播种后30天。在症结中，通过种皮+土壤施用的FM效果优于其他菌根物种。获得的结果还表明，种子包衣可以是AM真菌的便宜，可行和有效的传递系统，特别是对于大规模应用而言，因为与早期生长阶段的土壤施用相比，AM真菌种子包衣对玉米的生长具有更快，更大的影响。与土壤施用相比，M记录的芽和根生长属性在统计上相似或更高，尤其是在播种后30天。在症结中，通过种皮+土壤施用的FM效果优于其他菌根物种。获得的结果还表明，种子包衣可以是AM真菌的便宜，可行和有效的传递系统，特别是对于大规模应用而言，因为与早期生长阶段的土壤施用相比，AM真菌种子包衣对玉米的生长具有更快，更大的影响。