Abstract

ARIAS MOTA, Rosa María; ROMERO FERNANDEZ, Abraham de Jesús; BANUELOS TREJO, Jacob  and  CRUZ ELIZONDO, Yadeneyro de la. Inoculation of phosphorus solubilizing fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizae in tomato plants. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.8, pp.1747-1757.  Epub Feb 05, 2021. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v10i8.1558.

The need to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers demands the creation of alternative strategies that maintain competitive plant production without deteriorating the environment. In this study, the effectiveness of the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus solubilizers (alone and in consortia) on mycorrhization, the phosphorus content in the aerial part, the height, and root length of tomato plants was evaluated. Treatments included three strains of solubilizing fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium waksmanii), a consortium of mycorrhizae and all possible combinations including a control (without fungi). After four months, the mycorrhizal colonization, the phosphorus content of the aerial part was quantified by the molybdate blue method and the variables height and root length. The results obtained showed a colonization range of 48-66%; the highest values were detected with the AMF and AMF + An treatments. The consortium treatments of PSF and PSF + AMF showed a 191% increase in foliar phosphorus compared to the controls. The height of tomato plants was significantly greater in all treatments compared to the control. For the root length the AMF treatment and the control presented the highest values. The phosphorus solubilizer fungi consortiums in combination with the mycorrhizal fungi consortium have a high potential to be used as tomato biofertilizers in the greenhouse.

Keywords : Aspergillus niger; Penicillium brevicompactum; Penicillium waksmanii; biofertilization; consortia; mycorrhizal colonization.