Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Irrigation on Biological Properties of Sweet Pepper Rhizosphere in Organic Field Cultivation

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of mycorrhizal fungi (MF) and irrigation on biological properties of sweet pepper rhizosphere in organic field cultivation. For this purpose, MF were applied to plants in the form of commercial mycorrhizal inoculum (Rhizophagus aggregatus, R. intraradices, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Endogone mosseae, Funneliformis caledonium, and Gigaspora margarita) and irrigation according to the combinations: mycorrhized plants (PM), mycorrhized and irrigated plants (PMI), and irrigated plants (PI). Plants without MF and irrigation served as the absolute control (P). The study used classic and molecular techniques, assessing catalase activity, biodiversity of soil microorganisms (soil DNA analysis), and the Community-Level Physiological Profiles (CLPP) analysis using Biolog EcoPlates. The highest catalase activity was recorded in the control and mycorrhized soil sample. The highest total number of bacteria was noted in the rhizosphere of control plants (P) and irrigated plants, while the lowest number in the rhizosphere of mycorrhized and irrigated plants. Plant irrigation contributed to the increase in the total number of fungi in the rhizosphere. The rhizospheric soil of PM and PMI were characterized by the highest utilization of amines, amides, and amino acids, whereas the lowest level of utilization was detected in the P and PI rhizospheres. The highest biodiversity and metabolic activity were observed in the rhizospheres from the PMI and PM samples, whereas lower catabolic activity were recorded in the P and PI rhizospheres. The mycorrhization of crops improved the biological properties of the rhizosphere, especially under conditions of drought stress.

Biostimulants Managed Fungal Phytopathogens and Enhanced Activity of Beneficial Microorganisms in Rhizosphere of Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica L.)

“…Useful microorganisms applied as biostimulants include, among others, bacteria: Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., Arthrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Rhodococcus spp., Ochrobactrum spp., Serratia spp. [23,[33][34][35] and fungi: Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma atroviride, Heteroconium chaetospira, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Glomus intraradices [6,25,[36][37][38]. These microorganisms, inhabiting the rhizosphere soil and colonizing plant roots, belong to the PGPM (plant growth-promoting microorganisms) group [6,23,24,[33][34][35].…”

“…These microorganisms, inhabiting the rhizosphere soil and colonizing plant roots, belong to the PGPM (plant growth-promoting microorganisms) group [6,23,24,[33][34][35]. Among them, we can distinguish PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) [23,24,33] and PGPF (plant growth-promoting fungi) [6,25,38]. PGPMs also have the ability to limit the growth and development of phytopathogens.…”

Contribution of mycorrhizae to sustainable and ecological agriculture: a review

“…Both biocontrol agents were particularly effective at inhibiting root rot diseases (Ozgonen et al, 2001;Berta et al, 2005). The species composition of the fungal populations of plants are modified not only by AMF treatment, but also by other microorganisms in the rhizosphere that interact with key AMF components of the soil microbiota (Jamiołkowska et al, 2020b). In this context, AM formation changes the plant physiology and the nutritional and physical properties of rhizosphere soil.…”

“…The improvement of plant health status also depends on the composition of the microbiota in the plant rhizosphere. MF influences the development and activity of soil microorganisms (Jamiołkowska et al, 2020b). MF application (i.e.…”

“…Other pathogens banana, cucumber, tomato, cotton, potato, sweet pepper Becker et al, 1999;Declerck et al, 2002;Berta et al, 2005;Kobra et al, 2009;Bødker et al, 2002;Kasiamdari et al, 2002;Yao et al, 2002;Harrier and Watson, 2004;Whipps, 2004;Pozo and Azcón-Aguilar, 2007;Matsubara et al, 2010;Diedhiou et al, 2013;Matloob and Juber, 2013;Manila and Nelson, 2014;Cwalina--Ambroziak et al, 2015;Al-Hmoud and Al-Momany, 2015;Song et al, 2015;Jamiołkowska et al, 2020bJamiołkowska et al, et al (2020b show that in mycorrhizal plants, the fungal biodiversity increases within the rhizosphere (a greater number of saprotrophic fungi with antagonistic abilities).…”