Arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial symbiotic organisms
that play an important role in the water absorption and nutrient assimilation
for a wide variety of plants. In this work, the use of polyethylene
oxide (PEO) nanofibers was studied as a delivery system for AMF through
the coated nanofibers of common bean seeds (Phaseolus
vulgaris L var. José Beta). Thus, the effect
of PEO nanofibers on the infective capacity of AMF and the indicator
parameters of plant growth promotion (height plant, root length, number
of leaves, number of flower buds, number of pods, fresh weight, and
dry weight) was examined. Likewise, the mycorrhizal colonization rate
and the indicator parameters of plant growth promotion between a conventional
inoculation strategy and inoculation by nanofiber-coated seeds were
compared. The results show that PEO nanofibers did not have any negative
effect on the infective capacity of AMF or the indicator parameters
of plant growth promotion. On the other hand, the inoculated bean
plants showed a significant increase of 200, 140, and 143% in the
number of flower buds, fresh weight, and dry weight, respectively.
Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the mycorrhizal
colonization rate between the two inoculation strategies used, even
though the inoculant dose was 97% lower for the nanofiber-coated seeds.
Therefore, nanofibers could represent a promising alternative as a
seed-coating material and for the development of easy-to-apply and
economically viable technologies for the application of AMF inoculants
in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, ecological remediation,
and related areas.