Seed inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi propagules enhanced yield, biomass accumulation, and plant vigor of soybeans (Glycine max) and maize (Zea mays)

Abstract

Hyphal networks, resulting from mutualistic symbiotic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), improve plant growth and nutrition by enhancing root access to a significantly larger soil surface area, which increases nutrient availability and translocation within the plant-host. Considering the limitations imposed by the low nutrient availability commonly found in the highly weathered soils of Brazil, the positive effects of AMF could benefit the production of important plant species, such as soybeans and maize. Multiple trials were thus carried out to investigate growth and yield responses of two major crops of Brazil, soybeans and maize, in response to mycorrhizal symbiosis originated from the inoculation of a mixture of four AMF species at seed treatment. Five soybean and seven maize field trials were conducted in the 2018/2019 growing season in different regions of Brazil. Two product rates (10 or 20 ml ha-1) were tested under two P fertilization levels (0% and 100%). We observed that plant growth-promoting effects were observed in response to AMF inoculation in both crops and both rates (10 and 20 ml ha-1 and regardless of P fertilization). Moreover, treatments inoculated with AMF propagule, but not mineral fertilized with P, presented growth improvements either similar or better than the untreated P-fertilized control. Both crops yield was increased when the highest product rate was applied in combination with P fertilization relative to the P-fertilized untreated control. Our results show that EndoFuse is an alternative to facilitate important crops cultivation.