Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation and Substrate Composition on Seedling Growth of Two Atlantic Forest Tree Species

Abstract

The search for more efficient biotechnological tools for forest regeneration has increased over the past decades. Mycorrhizal inoculation is a valuable strategy to promote seedling growth, but its efficiency depends on the substrate used. This study aimed to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation and different types of substrates on the growth of Pseudobombax grandiflorum and Apuleia leiocarpa seedlings. Experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized 6 × 2 factorial design (six substrates and two inoculation levels) with six replications of 12 treatments. Both species showed similar growth patterns. Plants grown in inoculated substrates composed of 70% Cambisol and 30% bovine manure or 80% Cambisol and 20% Biomix showed improved nutritional status. These substrates had good physical and chemical characteristics (pH and P and N levels), which favored plant development and mycorrhizal symbiosis. P. grandiflorum seedlings showed enhanced growth in inoculated substrate composed of 80% Cambisol and 20% Biomix and in inoculated Cambisol fertilized with P. For A. leiocarpa, the best results were observed for seedlings grown in inoculated substratescomposed of 80% Cambisol and 20% Biomix, 70% Cambisol and 30% bovine manure, or Cambisol fertilized with P.

Crecimiento y desarrollo fotosintético de Swietenia mahagoni en sustratos inoculados con micorrizas arbusculares

“…Además de la elección adecuada del sustrato, una alternativa para obtener cantidad, calidad y mayor crecimiento de las plántulas es el uso de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA), cuya inoculación es particularmente apropiada en condiciones de vivero (Falcón et al 2020). Estos permiten a la planta ampliar la exploración del sustrato a través del micelio y transportar nutrientes a la raíz, así como incrementar la superficie de absorción de las plántulas, incluyendo los de baja movilidad en el suelo (Oliveira Júnior et al 2019).…”

Crescimento inicial de mudas de espécies arbóreas nativas produzidas em substratos inoculados com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares

“…Among the many factors that affect seedling production, the physical and chemical composition of substrates is one of them Oliveira Júnior et al 2019;Afonso et al 2020). Therefore, interest has grown in the use of alternative technologies that improve the physical and chemical conditions (Afonso et al 2020), and consequently the biological conditions of the substrates during the seedling production phase.…”

“…The use of substrates with adequate physical and chemical characteristics and inoculated with AMF can produce good quality seedlings (Dalanhol et al 2016). In addition to providing nutritional support to plants, the physical characteristics of the substrates can influence the growth and AMF can promote plants growth, since the growth medium is the link between the plant and the microorganisms (Oliveira Júnior et al 2019;). Thus, it is important to consider previous studies evaluating and selecting substrates with the most promising physical and chemical characteristics in favoring and potentiating the role of AMF during in seedling production .…”