Mycorrhization of Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott Plants (White Cultivar): Evaluation of Their Effect on Acid Phosphatase Activity During Growth and Production of Minitubers

Abstract

This work's main objective was to evaluate the effect of certain strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on acid phosphatase activity during growth. The treatments applied were, control, Glomus intraradices, Acaulospora tuberculata, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus sp., and the mixture of these four AMF strains. Their effect on the growth of vitroplants was evaluated on days 60, 120, and 180 after inoculation. Mycorrhizal status following treatments and acid phosphatase activity were assessed. The minitubers obtained were subjected to a preservation and germination test. The results showed that the maximum growth peak of X. sagittifolium plants was obtained on day 120 for all treatments. The mixture of the four strains of AMF had more influence on the growth parameters with values of 18.40±0.54 Cm and 42.34±16.67 Cm2, respectively for the average number of roots and leaf area. Mycorrhization did not significantly influence the mean number of leaves and mean plant height. Mycorrhizal structures were observed in all mycorrhizal treatments applied. The frequency of mycorrhization was very high in plants inoculated with Glomus sp. The evaluation of the phosphatase activity shows a significant activity at the level of the leaves with a peak of activity in the plants inoculated with Glomus sp. (47.72±0.07 µM/min/g of FW). Compared to the control, the number of minitubers produced was two to three times higher. The best tuberization percentage (80%) was obtained in plants inoculated with a mixture of AMF strains. The temperature of 7~10°C allowed the preservation of 50% of the germination capacity of the minitubers after two months. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that fertilization with AMF is beneficial for the stimulation of minitubers production.