Rootstock and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Combinatorial Effects on Eggplant Crop Performance and Fruit Quality under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

The herbaceous grafting of fruiting vegetables is considered a toolbox for safeguarding yield stability under various distresses and for improving fruit quality. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi seems also to be an efficient tool for increasing the assimilation, uptake and translocation of macroelements and microelements, for modulating plant secondary metabolism and for overcoming several forms of plant distress. The present work evaluated the combined effect of grafting the “Birgah” (B) eggplant onto its wild/allied relatives’ rootstocks (Solanum torvum (T), S. macrocarpon (M) and S. paniculatum (P)) and AM fungi (R. irregularis) on the yield, fruit quality, nitrogen use efficiency, mineral profile, and nutritional and functional quality. The B/T, B/M and B/P grafting combinations significantly increased the marketable fruit and fruit number compared with those in the ungrafted control. Furthermore, irrespective of the grafting combinations, AM fungi significantly enhanced the marketable fruit, fruit number and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 13.3%, 12.7% and 13.3%, respectively compared to those in the untreated control. Exposing the B/T and B/P grafted plants to the +AM treatment significantly increased the ascorbic acid contents by 17.2% and 10.4%, respectively, compared with those in the ungrafted control. Fruits from the combination B/P × +AM had a higher chlorogenic acid content than fruits from the ungrafted control plots. Finally, the B/T × +AM and B/P × +AM combinations decreased glycoalkaloids by 58.7% and 63.7%, respectively, compared with those in the ungrafted control, which represents a highly important target for eggplant fruit healthiness.

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) Performances as Subjected to Different Sources of Protein Hydrolysates

“…Plant biostimulants are a group of compounds and/or microorganisms which represent a novel sustainable tool to enhance plant performance, yield and fruit quality under stressful or no-stressful cultivation conditions [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Rouphael et al [18] and Rouphael and Colla [19] found that biostimulants ameliorate plant responses, such as nutrient use efficiency (NUE), stress tolerance, fruit features and nutrient uptake.…”

Microbial Biostimulants as Response to Modern Agriculture Needs: Composition, Role and Application of These Innovative Products

“…Consequently, an increase of the antioxidant activity was also recorded (WMD: +0.94; 95% CI: +0.19, +1.70; I 2 = 74%; P = 0.01). [152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160], and plotted according to the mean difference. The weight of each study is represented by the size of the green box.…”

“…Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistical test that represents the amount of total variation that could be attributed to heterogeneity. [152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160], and plotted according to the mean difference. The weight of each study is represented by the size of the green box.…”

“… Forest plot representation of the effects derived from biostimulant application on weight ( A ), content of sugars ( B ), proteins ( C ), polyphenols ( D ), anthocyanins ( E ), and antioxidant property ( F ) of fruits harvested from plants treated with microbial inoculation. Data were extrapolated from [ 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 ], and plotted according to the mean difference. The weight of each study is represented by the size of the green box.…”

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhization on Fruit Quality in Industrialized Tomato Production

“…The advantages for the plant resulting from the interaction with an AMF are, however, not only an improved nutrient supply but also increased resistance against pathogens, and improved tolerance to water and salt stress and to pollutants [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Other well-described positive effects of AM are an early onset of flowering and an increased yield and number of marketable fruits [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. As a consequence, AMF are more and more integrated into plant production systems, as they contribute to a reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.…”