Field inoculation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with contrasting life-history strategies differently affects tomato nutrient uptake and residue decomposition dynamics

Abstract

Purpose Plant microbial biostimulants, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), enhance nutrient concentration in fruits, including tomato. However, field studies on tomato AMF inoculation are scarce. AMF species belonging to Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae families known to vary in life-history strategies may determine differential effects on plant nutrient benefits and residue decomposition. Despite this, the effect of different life-history strategies on nutrient acquisition of tomato fruits has not been investigated yet. Methods We studied the effect of inoculation of two tomato varieties with four AMF species belonging to Glomeraceae and Gigasporaceae. Fungal colonization, yield, fruit nutrient concentration, litter decomposition, and bacterial and fungal abundances in soil were assessed in the field under organic agriculture. Results Overall Gigasporaceae promoted the concentration of nutrients in tomato fruits compared to Glomeraceae. A variability in AM fungal colonization and fruit nutrient concentration was detected within Glomeraceae. Scutellospora pellucida increased the yield (+ 27%) of var. Rio Grande with respect to Gigaspora gigantea. In var. Rio Grande, inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae did not change litter decomposition as compared to non-inoculated controls, whereas it was lower than in Sclerocystis sinuosa and Gigasporaceae species, which showed the highest decomposition rates. AMF inoculation promoted soil total bacterial and fungal abundance and fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratio compared to controls, and members of Gigasporaceae had the highest F:B ratio. Conclusion These findings pointed at the inclusion of AM fungal life-history strategy within the selection criteria for the development of biofertilizers able to enhance the nutritional value of vegetables under organic farming systems.

Editorial: Belowground adaptation of plants to climate change

“…Papers in this special issue also pick up the theme that association with mycorrhizal fungi enable plants to cope better with reduced input systems necessary to help mitigate against further CO 2 emissions and to adapt to newly agronomically favourable geographic regions as a consequence of climate change. Arcidiacono et al (2023) demonstrated that the inoculation of tomato varieties with specific mycorrhizal inocula increased the yield, shoot mass and nutrient uptake and concentration in fruits. This was associated not only with the presence of mycorrhizae, but also changes in the rhizosphere microbiome.…”

Mycorrhizal Biotechnology Reduce Phosphorus in the Nutrient Solution of Strawberry Soilless Cultivation Systems

“…In our case, the highest Ca uptake values were generated in the plants inoculated with AMF and the highest P inputs (25% P + AMF, 50% P + AMF, and 100% P + AMF) (Table 7). AMF have been reported to be effective in the uptake of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, K, and N, in addition to playing a significant role in phosphorus uptake [65][66][67].…”