Abstract
The inoculation of strawberry cultivars with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a profitable and viable biotechnological tool, with potential to improve the horticultural performance of plants. However, this biotechnology is lacking and unknown to producers. The aim of the research was to investigate whether strawberry cultivars in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF differ in their horticultural performance. The treatments, delineated in a bifactorial scheme, were four strawberry cultivars in the absence and presence of two AMF-based inoculants. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks, with three replications. The root system of ‘Albion’ cultivar showed the highest mycorrhizal colonization. Claroideoglomus etunicatum showed greater capacity to infect plant roots. ‘Portola’ was the most productive cultivar and ‘Albion’ and ‘Aromas’ produced strawberries with the highest levels of total anthocyanins. It is concluded that the use of mycorrhizal biotechnology enhances the levels of total flavonoids in fruits of the ‘Albion’ cultivar inoculated with the fungal species C. etunicatum. The root system of ‘Albion’ cultivar has greater mycorrhizal colonization. The fungal species C. etunicatum is more effective in colonizing the roots of the plant host. It is suggested to use the ‘Portola’ cultivar to obtain higher fruit yields and the ‘Albion’ and ‘Aromas’ cultivars for producers who aim to obtain strawberries with higher levels of total anthocyanins. ‘Aromas’ is recommended for those seeking a dual purpose (production and quality).
Highlights
The strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) production in Brazil (165,000 tons) (Antunes; Bonow; Reisser Júnior, 2020) is still concentrated in the conventional cultivation system, with low productivity (36.6 t.ha-1)when compared to countries considered the largest producers, such as the United States of America (67.9 t.ha-1) and Spain (52.8 t.ha-1) (Chiomento, et al, 2020)
The fungal species C. etunicatum is more effective in colonizing the roots of the plant host
That strawberry producers can introduce new technologies during cultivation and at the same time enhance sustainable agriculture, the following question arises: how is the horticultural performance of strawberry cultivars in the absence and presence of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)? The hypothesis for this question is that strawberry cultivars inoculated with AMF produce more fruits and with higher quality
Summary
When compared to countries considered the largest producers, such as the United States of America (67.9 t.ha-1) and Spain (52.8 t.ha-1) (Chiomento, et al, 2020). These data show the Brazilian challenge in introducing new technologies to reduce the productivity gap between the more developed countries. Most producers who cultivate in substrate establish open systems, where the drained and surplus nutrient solution is released into the environment, which can cause the contamination of the agroecosystem. That strawberry producers can introduce new technologies during cultivation and at the same time enhance sustainable agriculture, the following question arises: how is the horticultural performance of strawberry cultivars in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF? That strawberry producers can introduce new technologies during cultivation and at the same time enhance sustainable agriculture, the following question arises: how is the horticultural performance of strawberry cultivars in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF? The hypothesis for this question is that strawberry cultivars inoculated with AMF produce more fruits and with higher quality
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