The Influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on the Growth and Quality of Processing Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Seedlings

Ioannis Roussis, Dimitrios Beslemes, Chariklia Kosma, Vassilios Triantafyllidis, Anastasios Zotos, Evangelia Tigka, Antonios Mavroeidis, Stella Karydogianni, Varvara Kouneli, Ilias Travlos and Ioanna Kakabouki
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Ioannis Roussis: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Beslemes: Research and Development Department, Alfa Seeds ICSA, 41500 Larissa, Greece
Chariklia Kosma: Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
Vassilios Triantafyllidis: Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, 30100 Agrinio, Greece
Anastasios Zotos: Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Patras, 30200 Mesolonghi, Greece
Evangelia Tigka: Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 41335 Larissa, Greece
Antonios Mavroeidis: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Stella Karydogianni: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Varvara Kouneli: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Ilias Travlos: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
Ioanna Kakabouki: Laboratory of Agronomy, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most valuable horticultural crops, not only for its economic importance but also for its high nutritional value and sensory qualities. The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungus Rhizophagus irregularis can improve plant nutrient uptake and decrease seedling transplanting shock. Although R. irregularis is one of the most extensively studied AMF species, there is a paucity of data on the effects of this species on processing tomato seedlings produced in an aerated hydroponic float system. A greenhouse experiment with four treatments and three replications was established in a completely randomized design. The treatments contained the addition of 0, 40, 80, and 120 fungal spores per L of nutrient solution (control, AMF1, AMF2, and AMF3, respectively). Root colonization analysis proved that the maximum dose of applied AMF (AMF3) supported colonization to a large extent, succeeding 36.74%. In addition, the highest values of total dry weight (1.386 g), survival rate (94.79%), N content (3.376 mg per 100 g DW) and P content (0.497 mg per 100 g DW) were also observed under AMF3 treatment. In conclusion, the application of high doses of the AM fungus R. irregularis in nutrient solutions of float system leads to a substantial improvement in the quality and growth of processing tomato seedlings.

Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); Dickson’s quality index (DQI); Heinz 3402 F 1; root colonization; seedling quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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