Abstract
With the aim of assessing the effects of beneficial microorganisms on greenhouse tomato “plum” grown under salinity conditions, research was carried out in southern Italy from summer to winter, by comparing two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) based formulates (Rizotech Plus, Myco Apply DR) and a non-inoculated control, in factorial combination with four soil electrical conductivities (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC). The highest root colonization was 83% at 3.0 mS·cm−1 under AMF-based treatments and 34% at 1.5 mS·cm−1 in non-treated control; the latter attained lower values than AMF treatments at any soil EC. Harvest occurred 3.5 days earlier in control plants, six days earlier under 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC compared to 1.5 mS·cm−1. The inoculated plants always showed higher yield than the control ones and the highest production at 4.5 mS·cm−1 EC; control plants attained the highest yield under 3.0–4.5 mS·cm−1 EC. The highest values of most fruit quality indicators, mineral elements and antioxidant compounds and activity were recorded under AMF-based formulates inoculation and 6.0 mS·cm−1 soil EC. Beneficial microorganisms proved to be an effective environmentally friendly tool for improving tomato yield and quality performances in both normal and soil salinity conditions.
Highlights
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the most spread vegetable species worldwide [1], mainly cultivated in Asia (China, India, Turkey, Iran), Africa (Nigeria, Egypt), United States and Europe (Italy, Spain) and is rich in macronutrients, trace-elements and antioxidants [2]
This index was significantly affected by the interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-based formulate and soil electrical conductivity (EC) (Figure 2): the increase of affected by the interaction between AMF-based formulate and soil EC (Figure 2): the increase of nutrient nutrient availability in the soil from 1.5 to 3.0 −1
MS cm-1 EC enhanced the mycorrhizal root colonization availability in the soil from 1.5 to 3.0 mS·cm EC enhanced the mycorrhizal root colonization from from 60% to 83% in plants inoculated with AMF; interestingly, the further soil enrichment with
Summary
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the most spread vegetable species worldwide [1], mainly cultivated in Asia (China, India, Turkey, Iran), Africa (Nigeria, Egypt), United States and Europe (Italy, Spain) and is rich in macronutrients, trace-elements and antioxidants [2]. Crop performances of tomato are affected by farming management, which should promote efficient plant development as well as valuable fruit production, quality and antioxidant properties. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic association with plants, changing their nutritional, biochemical and physiological status [4] and showing positive effects on vegetable crops both in open field and greenhouse [5]. In this respect, AMF play an active role in plant nutrition due to their ability to improve mineral element uptake and plant growth, phosphorus (P) which is an essential but low mobile nutrient [6]. They interact with mineral and organic fertilizers, increasing phosphorus availability and improving plant physiological conditions, in high salinity conditions causing osmotic stress and toxicity of some ions [7]
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