Hormonal Concentration and Growth in Chili Plants Inoculated with Several Mycorrhizal Fungus, Evaluated in Different Steps

Abstract

The contribution of arbuscular endomycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on hormonal levels increase in chili plants, at different steps is currently unknown. In this experiment was evaluated the effect of Glomus sp. Zac-19, G. etunicatum and G. intraradices, inoculation mirasol and ancho cultivars, under greenhouse conditions. Plants were growing in pots containing 1 kg of substrate (3 sand: 1 soil ratio). The effect was measured on fresh fruit production and indolacetic acid, giberellin GA3 and 6-aminopurine concentration. Also plant parameters measured were: plant height, foliar area, stem diameter, root length, aerial fresh weight, total fresh weight, fruit weight and mycorrhizal colonization. All treatments were imposed using 16 replications in a full random design. Results shown that mycorrhizal colonization average of the three fungus was 44% in mirasol cultivar y 42% in ancho cultivar. Mycorrhizal colonization had an effect on growth and development in both cultivars, expressed in a greater height, leaf number, foliar area, total fresh weigh and fruit mass. Was registered an increase of 80% in the yield in inoculated plants respecting to control. Indolacetic acid and gibberellins concentration in shoots, were bigger in plants colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) than in control. The 6-aminopurine levels in roots of colonized plants by AMF shown higher values. These results suggest that AM fungi modify the hormonal concentration and some growth factors in chili plants.