THE INFLUENCE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI INOCULATION METHOD ON GROWTH OF STRAWBERRY PLANTS IN A SOILLESS GROWING SYSTEM

F. Martinez , C. Weiland, P. Palencia
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can increase plant growth and uptake of nutrients and decrease yield losses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation methods on growth of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. ‘Splendor’) plant in soilless growing system. Plants were grown in 6 polyethylene bags filled with coir fiber. A completely randomized block design (2 treatments x 2 replications) was used in a soilless growing system. Each replicate consisted of 10 plants. The rhizosphere of plants was inoculated with a soil mixture of peat and sand, (4:1; v/v). The soil mix was inoculated with 20 spores g-1 of two mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) (mycorrhizal substrate). Two different methods of inoculation were used: (S1 and S2). Two polyethylene bags of each treatment were applied. The treatments were: ‘S1’ (50% of rhizosphere of plant was placed in a bag with 18-20 g of mycorrhizal substrate) and ‘S2’ (100% of rhizosphere was inoculated with 18-20 g of mycorrhizal substrate). Two polyethylene bags were placed as control of each treatment. Control plants were set up without inoculation and with the same treatment, ‘S1’ and ‘S2’. The experiment was carried out in 2010-2011. The experiment had duration of seven months and was conducted in a greenhouse. The main effects of treatments on vegetative parameters were evaluated. The SPAD old, SPAD new, crown diameter(mm), numbers of leaves per plant, numbers of flowers per plant, numbers of fruits per plant, length (cm), width (cm), height (cm), vegetative growth index, assimilated flow index and fruit growth index were measured weekly. Vegetative growth index was calculated from the size of plants. SPAD values could reflect the effect of different inoculation methods (S1 and S2). There were differences between mycorrhizal plants and non mycorrhizal plants; and between different inoculation methods (S1 and S2).
Martinez , F., Weiland, C. and Palencia, P. (2013). THE INFLUENCE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI INOCULATION METHOD ON GROWTH OF STRAWBERRY PLANTS IN A SOILLESS GROWING SYSTEM. Acta Hortic. 1013, 487-492
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1013.60
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1013.60
Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, soilless growing system, vegetative parameters
English

Acta Horticulturae