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

Abstract

Combination of plant inoculation with a commercial mycorrhizal formulation with half or full fertiliser application rates was evaluated for the effects on plant growth and yield and mycorrhization occurrence throughout two consecutive field tomato crops in southern Italy. Mycorrhizal formulation was inoculated on tomato seedling roots both in the nursery and after transplant. Inoculated tomato seedlings were significantly larger than non-inoculated seedlings less than 30 days after the first inoculation in the nursery. Above ground dry biomass and stem number of inoculated plants were found to be higher also at the end of each crop. Positive effects of mycorrhizal inoculation were extended also to marketable yield of both crops, mainly due to an increased number and weight of clusters and fruits. Mycorrhizal treatment also improved crop earliness, seen in terms of anticipating plant flowering, increasing first harvest yield, and reducing average harvesting time compared to non-inoculated plants. Both rates of mineral fertilisers positively affected tomato growth and marketable yield, but did not influence fruit quality parameters. No significant interaction was found between mineral fertilisation and plant mycorrhization. Crop inoculation with mycorrhizal formulations could reduce the amounts of fertilisers and pesticides being used, and could represent a sustainable technique to improve crop yield and profitability.

Potential of biofertilisers to improve performance of local genotype tomatoes

“…The supplementary mycorrhization and bacterial inoculation act towards stimulating the development of levels 1 and 3 of the plants, as reported before in other studies (Candido et al, 2013;Candido et al, 2015;Kim et al, 1997). Among the tested fertilisers, the bacterial inoculum had the lowest effect over the development with a gradient towards the Hostati variety and both of them are integrated in the interaction variety-treatment complex.…”

Responses of Different Panicum miliaceum L. Genotypes to Saline and Water Stress in a Marginal Mediterranean Environment

“…AMF symbiosis can exert positive effects on crop production [13][14][15][16] and improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses [17][18][19][20][21] such as drought and salinity. Possible AMF-mediated adaptation mechanisms inducing plant tolerance to saline conditions [22] include: (1) nutrient uptake improvement, especially phosphorus (P) [23][24][25]; (2) accumulation of soluble sugars into the roots [26]; (3) K + /Na + ratio adjustment [27,28]; and (4) antioxidant enzymatic activities [29].…”

The plant growth‐promoting bacterium Kosakonia radicincitans improves fruit yield and quality of Solanum lycopersicum

“…Tomato, with a production of about 164 million tonnes worldwide in 2013, represents one of the most important crops at present. Both growth and yield of tomato are reported to be promoted by various beneficial bacterial strains such as Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 63‐28, Bacillus fortis IAGS162 and Bacillus subtilis IAGS174, Burkholderia tropica strain MTo‐293 and Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus , as well as for mycorrhiza or the combination of two …”

“…also showed a positive effect of non‐mycorrhizal fungal root endophytes on tomato fruit yield and quality. In some cases, it was observed that AMF had a positive effect on plant growth but the quality parameters of tomato fruit were not significantly affected by plant AMF inoculation . In general, tomato quality is impacted by both variety and growth conditions (e.g.…”