Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance fruit growth and quality of chile ancho (Capsicum annuum L. cv San Luis) plants exposed to drought

Abstract

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and drought on fruit quality was evaluated in chile ancho (Capsicum annuum L. cv San Luis). AMF treatments were (1) Glomus fasciculatum (AMFG), (2) a fungal species consortium from the forest "Los Tuxtla" in Mexico (AMFT), (3) a fungal species consortium from the Sonorian desert in Mexico (AMFD), and (4) a noninoculated control (NAMF). Plants were exposed to a 26-day drought cycle. Fruit quality was determined by measuring size (length, width, and pedicel length), color, chlorophyll, and carotenoid concentration. Under nondrought conditions, AMFG produced fruits that were 13% wider and 15% longer than the NAMF treatment. Under nondrought conditions, fruit fresh weight was 25% greater in the AMFG treatment compared to the NAMF. Under drought, fruits in the AMFT and AMFD treatments showed fresh weights similar to those in the NAMF treatment not subjected to drought. Fruits of the AMFG treatment subjected to drought showed the same color intensity and chlorophyll content as those of the nondroughted NAMF treatment and carotenoid content increased 1.4 times compared to that in the NAMF not exposed to drought. It is interesting to note that fruits in the AMFD treatment subjected to drought and the NAMF treatment not exposed to drought reached the same size. AMFD treatment increased the concentration of carotenes (1.4 times) under nondrought conditions and the concentration of xanthophylls (1.5 times) under drought when compared to the nondroughted NAMF treatment.

Growth and yield promoting effect of artificial mycorrhization combined with different fertiliser rates on field-grown tomato

“…This is in contrast to many other studies documenting a positive impact of root inoculation with beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms on fruit quality parameters (Charron et al, 2001;Kaya et al, 2003;Mena-Violante et al, 2006). An increase in antioxidant activity and a higher lycopene and shoot and fruit potassium content were also reported for tomato fruits from AMFinoculated plants (Ordookhani et al, 2010).…”

Arbuscular mycorrhiza improved growth performance in Macadamia tetraphylla L. grown under water deficit stress involves soluble sugar and proline accumulation

“…For example, AM fungi improved growth and fruit quality in Capsicum annuum L. cv. 'San Luis' grown under water deficit (Mena-Violante et al 2006). Similarly, mycorrhizae improved growth in perennial trees such as Fagus sylvatica (Shi et al 2002) and Pinus radiata (Ortega et al 2004) by improving water relations.…”

Selección de cepas de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares en dos sistemas de producción de chile

“…TEC seed treatments that had a dry weight of higher than 0.66 g plant were 14, 1 and 11; TRA in the inoculum treatments 1, 13 and 14 had a higher weight to 0.68 g. Mena-Violante et al (2006), found no effect by inoculation with AMF on the dry weight of plant root width pepper (Capsicum annuum L.); however, Ortas et al (2011), reported that, the inoculation with different AMF increased the PSR and shoot dry weight. PSR increased, shoot and total dry weight is also reported by Sensoy et al (2007) using two strains of AMF in eight genotypes of chili peppers.…”

“…Los tratamientos del inóculo TEC que tuvieron un peso seco de planta superior a 0.66 g fueron 14, 1 y 11; en el inóculo TRA los tratamientos 1, 13 y 14 tuvieron un peso mayor a 0.68 g. Mena-Violante et al (2006) no encontraron efecto por la inoculación con HMA en el peso seco de raíz de plantas de chile ancho (Capsicum annuum L.), pero Ortas et al (2011) reportan que la inoculación con diferentes HMA incrementaron el PSR así como el peso seco de brotes. El aumento de PSR, de brotes, así como del peso seco total es reportada también por Sensoy et al (2007) al utilizar dos cepas de HMA en ocho genotipos de chiles.…”