Mycorrhization of strawberry plantlets potentiates the synthesis of phytochemicals during ex vitro acclimatization

Abstract

Ex vitro strawberry plantlets from micropropagation and coinoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar can provide beneficial health effects. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of different proportions of biochar in the presence and absence of AMF on the production of secondary metabolites in the leaves and roots of strawberry plantlets during ex vitro acclimatization. Additionally, the enzymatic activity of the substrate enriched with AMF and biochar was analyzed. The experiment consisted of the control (absence of the mycorrhizal community) and four biochar proportions (0, 3, 6, and 9% of the volume of the container) coinoculated with AMF. Plantlets produced on substrates enriched with AMF showed higher levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins in the tissues analyzed than control plantlets. The combination of AMF and 9% biochar increased the content of total flavonoids in the leaves of strawberry plantlets and increased the activity of phosphatase. The substrate with up to 6% biochar and mycorrhizae showed increased β-glucosidase activity. In conclusion, mycorrhizae are excellent tools to improve the phytochemical quality of strawberry plantlets acclimatized ex vitro. The association between host plants, mycorrhizal symbionts, and bioactivators of these fungi potentiates properties beneficial to health, which can be exploited efficiently in sustainable agriculture.

Fungos Micorrízicos Arbusculares E Biocarvão Como Ferramentas Sustentáveis No Cultivo Do Morangueiro: Uma Revisão Narrativasustentáveis No Cultivo Do Morangueiro: Uma Revisão Narrativa

“…Por ser uma das culturas hortícolas com maior valor econômico, o morangueiro cultivado, originado a partir da hibridação entre F. chiloensis e F. virginiana (Singh et al, 2015), está atingindo novas fronteiras agrícolas em escala mundial (Chiomento et al, 2022). O Brasil ocupa a 17ª posição entre os maiores produtores de morangos, com uma área cultivada de 5.200 ha e com produção de mais de 200.000 t, o que representa uma produtividade média de aproximadamente 38,5 t/ha (Antunes et al, 2021).…”