The Influence of Bioproducts on Mycorrhizal Occurrence and Diversity in the Rhizosphere of Strawberry Plants under Controlled Conditions

Abstract

The new products obtained from natural resources are an alternative to methods based on traditional mineral fertilizers, which are destructive for soil mycorrhizal communities. Our experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizers and amendments of very diverse composition on mycorrhizal abundance and diversity, as well as on root growth, in strawberry plants cv. "Honeoye". The plants were grown in rhizoboxes filled with a podsolic soil. The plants were treated with granulated bovine manure, vermicompost extract, humates extract, plant extract, extract from seaweed species reinforced with humic and fulvic acids, a consortium of beneficial soil organisms, a stillage from yeast production and a solution of titanium. Plants treated with products and the microorganisms consortium also received half dose of manure. A standard mineral fertilization (NPK) and an unfertilized control were also included. The bioproducts based on humus-like substances and the yeast stillage had the greatest positive influence on the colonization of roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The different treatments affected the diversity of AMF species present in the rhizospheric soil. All organic products, even though providing a significantly low amount of nutrients, enhanced root growth characteristics in comparison to the mineral fertilization.

The Influence of Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Apple and Sour Cherry Maidens Fertilized with Different Bioproducts in the Organic Nursery

“…The effectiveness of mycorrhiza was also negligible when vermiculite (Humus UP) was used as a fertilizer. On the other hand, in the presence of manure or biopreparations such as BF Amin or Vinassa, stimulation of growth of young trees under the influence of mycorrhiza was clearly evident, which is consistent with previous studies conducted by Grzyb et al [13,21] and Sas Paszt et al [2]. Mycorrhization had no effect on the growth of sour cherry maidens in the presence of the fertilizer Florovit Eko.…”

“…This effect had been confirmed by previous studies carried out at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice. Sas Paszt et al [2] showed negative effects of NPK fertilization on the formation of mycorrhizas on the roots of fruit plants and the reduction in biodiversity and populations of beneficial soil microflora. Thus the low effectiveness of mycorrhiza is caused by the negative effect of NPK fertilization on the development of soil microflora and by the sufficient availability of NPK minerals under mineral fertilization.…”

“…The scientific literature contains many reports on the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on growth and fruiting of horticultural crops such as strawberry [1,2,[8][9][10]. Very few publications are available on the effect of mycorrhiza on growth and development of rootstocks and young fruit trees in organic nurseries, and later in orchards [4,6,16,17].…”

“…Lack of detailed information on the impact of traditional organic fertilization with manure and very few data on new organic fertilizers, plant extracts, and bacterial and mycorrhizal inocula are real obstacles to the development of innovative technologies of cultivation and fertilization of plants in the agricultural sector [1,2].…”

“…New products for improving soil fertility and technologies being introduced into organic production are studied in detail also in terms of their effect on the behaviour of soil microorganisms [2]. Numerous forms of organic fertilizers and soil conditioners have been evaluated by many authors, both on herbaceous and woody plants [11][12][13][14].…”