Performance and Establishment of a Commercial Mycorrhizal Inoculant in Viticulture

Daniel Rosa, Antreas Pogiatzis, Pat Bowen, Vasilis Kokkoris, Andrew Richards, Taylor Holland and Miranda Hart
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Daniel Rosa: Department of Biology, University of British Columbia—Okanagan, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Antreas Pogiatzis: Department of Biology, University of British Columbia—Okanagan, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Pat Bowen: Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 4200 Highway, 97 South, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0, Canada
Vasilis Kokkoris: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave. E., Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Andrew Richards: Department of Biology, University of British Columbia—Okanagan, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Taylor Holland: Department of Biology, University of British Columbia—Okanagan, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
Miranda Hart: Department of Biology, University of British Columbia—Okanagan, 3187 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: (1) Background: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are symbiotic organisms that help plants acquire nutrients from the soil in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Commercial AM fungal inoculants are widely available and are used extensively in agriculture including wine grape production. However, positive growth responses from inoculants are more consistent in the greenhouse compared to the field. (2) Methods: We grew three grapevine rootstocks with and without an AM fungal inoculant in the greenhouse for one year, then they were transplanted to the field for two years. To quantify the establishment of the inoculant, we analyzed root samples with a digital PCR assay. (3) Results: We show that AM fungal inoculation increased biomass production only in the greenhouse. After two growing seasons in the field, the commercial inoculant colonized roots but did not increase biomass production compared to uninoculated rootstocks. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights that AM fungal inoculants do not always promote growth of grapevines in the field. Future research should focus on inoculant strains designed for viticulture applications and take rootstock into consideration to maximize their efficacy.

Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; inoculation; rootstock; grapevine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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