Abstract
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important tuber crop with high dietary value that could potentially help to alleviate malnutrition and hunger in Africa. However, production is expensive, with high fertilizer and pesticide demands that lead to environmental pollution, and tillage practices that negatively affect soil structure. Microorganisms of different types have increasingly been found to be useful as biofertilizers, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are an important crop symbiont. AM fungi have been shown to increase tolerance of crop plants to drought, salinity and disease by facilitating water and nutrient acquisition and by improving overall soil structure. However, the establishment and maintenance of the symbioses are greatly affected by agricultural practices. Here, we review the benefits that AM fungi confer in potato production, discuss the role and importance of mycorrhiza helper bacteria, and focus on how AM fungal diversity and abundance can be affected by conventional agricultural practices, such as those used in potato production. We suggest approaches for maintaining AM fungal abundance in potato production by highlighting the potential of conservation tillage practices augmented with cover crops and crop rotations. An approach that balances weed control, nutrient provision, and AM fungal helper bacterial populations, whilst promoting functional AM fungal populations for varying potato genotypes, will stimulate efficient mycorrhizal interventions.
Highlights
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), known as the “Hidden Treasure,” is the most important non-cereal crop in the world (Ezekiel et al, 2013)
This contrasts with Europe, where there has been a downward trend in potato production from 221 million tons in 1961 to 105 million tons in 2018 (FAOSTAT, 2020a)
Experiments with Azotobacter DSM-281, Bacillus PTCC-1020 and Glomus intraradices (Rhizophagus intraradices) in potato production led to increased minituber number and size, which translated to increased yields (Otroshy et al, 2013)
Summary
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), known as the “Hidden Treasure,” is the most important non-cereal crop in the world (Ezekiel et al, 2013). Once in soil substrate inoculated with AM fungi, the developed minituber produces an increased tuber number regardless of whether the plants are potted or field-grown (Cheng et al, 2008). Effective functionality is highly influenced by inoculation techniques, interaction with indigenous background AM fungi and soil nutrient status, all of which may affect yield potential of potato crops significantly (Loján et al, 2017).
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