Evaluation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost supplementation on growth, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Abstract

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus‐indica) is a medicinal plant that plays important economic and ecological roles in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation isolated from O. ficus-indica rhizosphere and/or vermicompost supplementation on growth and biochemical properties of newly developed O. ficus-indica cladodes. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with four treatments: control, AMF inoculation and vermicompost application individually or in combination with AMF. After eight months of cultivation, the results showed that the application of AMF and/or vermicompost improved growth and stimulated mycorrhizal colonization. Treatments with AMF, vermicompost, and AMF + vermicompost treatments increased sugar and protein contents by 30, 55 and 67% and 21, 60 and 84%, respectively. In addition, these treatments improved the superoxide dismutase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities and total phenolics and flavonoids content. Consequently, the same treatments enhanced the inhibition of the free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity by 58, 52 and 33%, respectively compared to control plants, which reflects the highest antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that AMF combined with vermicompost induced the greatest effect on the different parameters tested and could improve the growth and development of cactus plants.