Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) increase the content of biomolecules in leaves of Inga vera Willd. seedlings

Abstract

Ingazeira (Inga vera Willd.), a plant native to Brazil is commonly used by Brazilians for its medicinal properties and the value of its wood. Various plants with therapeutic properties and economic importance benefit from mycorrhizal inoculation, which produces larger quantities of therapeutic compounds. However, the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on ingazeira have not yet been studied. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth of seedlings and production of primary and secondary metabolites, and to determine the total foliar antioxidant activity in ingazeira seedlings. Soil-inoculum was applied to the root region of ingazeira plantlets, which were transplanted into sacs containing 1.2 kg of soil and 10 % vermicompost (100 g vermicompost kg−1 soil). The inoculum consisted of 200 glomerospores per pot of each AMF: Gigaspora albida N.C. Schenck & G.S. Sm. (UFPE 01), Acaulospora longula Spain & N.C. Schenck (UFPE 21), or Claroideoglomus etunicatum (W. N. Becker & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Schussler (UFPE 06). After 140 days in a greenhouse, growth variables, primary and secondary metabolite content, and total foliar antioxidant activity were determined. AMF optimized the growth and production of secondary metabolites. Mycorrhizal symbiosis can maximize growth and phytochemical production in ingazeira seedlings, thus providing an alternative to the installation of sustainable crops of this leguminous plant.