Tomato Yield, Quality, Mineral Composition and Antioxidants as Affected by Beneficial Microorganisms Under Soil Salinity Induced by Balanced Nutrient Solutions

Vincenzo Michele Sellitto, Nadezhda A. Golubkina, Laura Pietrantonio, Eugenio Cozzolino, Antonio Cuciniello, Vincenzo Cenvinzo, Imbrea Florin and Gianluca Caruso
Additional contact information
Vincenzo Michele Sellitto: Msbiotech S.p.A., 86035 Larino, Campobasso, Italy
Nadezhda A. Golubkina: Federal Scientific Center of Vegetable Production, Odintsovo District, 143072 Moscow, Russia
Laura Pietrantonio: Msbiotech S.p.A., 86035 Larino, Campobasso, Italy
Eugenio Cozzolino: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA)—Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Antonio Cuciniello: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA)—Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Vincenzo Cenvinzo: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
Imbrea Florin: Department of Agricultural Technologies, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine King Michael I of Romania, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Gianluca Caruso: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-15

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.

Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘plum’ type; root colonization; organic acids; antioxidant content and activity (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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