Nanofibers as a Delivery System for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial symbiotic organisms that play an important role in the water absorption and nutrient assimilation for a wide variety of plants. In this work, the use of polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers was studied as a delivery system for AMF through the coated nanofibers of common bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L var. José Beta). Thus, the effect of PEO nanofibers on the infective capacity of AMF and the indicator parameters of plant growth promotion (height plant, root length, number of leaves, number of flower buds, number of pods, fresh weight, and dry weight) was examined. Likewise, the mycorrhizal colonization rate and the indicator parameters of plant growth promotion between a conventional inoculation strategy and inoculation by nanofiber-coated seeds were compared. The results show that PEO nanofibers did not have any negative effect on the infective capacity of AMF or the indicator parameters of plant growth promotion. On the other hand, the inoculated bean plants showed a significant increase of 200, 140, and 143% in the number of flower buds, fresh weight, and dry weight, respectively. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the mycorrhizal colonization rate between the two inoculation strategies used, even though the inoculant dose was 97% lower for the nanofiber-coated seeds. Therefore, nanofibers could represent a promising alternative as a seed-coating material and for the development of easy-to-apply and economically viable technologies for the application of AMF inoculants in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, ecological remediation, and related areas.