Tomato Yield, Quality, Mineral Composition and Antioxidants as Affected by Beneficial Microorganisms Under Soil Salinity Induced by Balanced Nutrient Solutions

Abstract

With the aim of assessing the effects of beneficial microorganisms on greenhouse tomato “plum” grown under salinity conditions, research was carried out in southern Italy from summer to winter, by comparing two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) based formulates (Rizotech Plus, Myco Apply DR) and a non-inoculated control, in factorial combination with four soil electrical conductivities (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC). The highest root colonization was 83% at 3.0 mS·cm−1 under AMF-based treatments and 34% at 1.5 mS·cm−1 in non-treated control; the latter attained lower values than AMF treatments at any soil EC. Harvest occurred 3.5 days earlier in control plants, six days earlier under 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC compared to 1.5 mS·cm−1. The inoculated plants always showed higher yield than the control ones and the highest production at 4.5 mS·cm−1 EC; control plants attained the highest yield under 3.0–4.5 mS·cm−1 EC. The highest values of most fruit quality indicators, mineral elements and antioxidant compounds and activity were recorded under AMF-based formulates inoculation and 6.0 mS·cm−1 soil EC. Beneficial microorganisms proved to be an effective environmentally friendly tool for improving tomato yield and quality performances in both normal and soil salinity conditions.

Yield, Essential Oil and Quality Performances of Artemisia dracunculus, Hyssopus officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia as Affected by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi under Organic Management

“…Indeed, in the latter crop the beneficial microorganisms did not lead to yield and plant biomass increase, contrary to what was recorded in Artemisia dracunculus and Hyssopus officinalis (Table 1). In previous research carried out on shallot [26], onion and garlic [18] and tomato [27], AMF inoculation resulted in higher root mycorrhizal colonization percentages than those recorded in the present investigation. The data presented in Figure 1 indicate different effects of AMF preparation on phenological phases of aromatic plant development.…”

Comprehensive Assessment of Ameliorative Effects of AMF in Alleviating Abiotic Stress in Tomato Plants

“…Previously, some studies have indicated that AMF can enhance the plant growth and uptake of nutrients, decrease yield losses of tomato under saline conditions, and improve salt tolerance of tomato [ 86 , 87 , 88 ]. Colonization with F. mosseae significantly improved dry matter and leaf area in the salt-stressed tomato plants.…”

“…AMF-enriched plants grown in saline soils (1.5 mS cm −1 to 6.0 mS cm −1 ) showed amplified fruit yield, quality, mineral composition, and antioxidant status. As for fruit mineral composition [ 88 ], the application of AMF-based formulates resulted in higher content of K, Ca, Mg, P, S, and NO 3 compared to the control, whereas Cl was not significantly affected by the beneficial microorganisms.…”

In-Depth Observation on the Microbial and Fungal Community Structure of Four Contrasting Tomato Cultivation Systems in Soil Based and Soilless Culture Systems

“…Moreover, it was demonstrated that soil and soilless culture systems and soil amendments and fertilizers can have a clear impact on plant growth, tomato fruit quality and on the suppression of plant diseases ( Cotxarrera et al, 2002 ; Gruda, 2008 ; Zhai et al, 2009 ; Coppens et al, 2015 ; Sakarika et al, 2019 ; Dion et al, 2020 ). Several research papers have associated these favorable effects on the microbiome of the soil and the rhizosphere of the plant ( Tu et al, 2006 ; El-Yazeid and Abou-Aly, 2011 ; Bona et al, 2018 ; Sellitto et al, 2019 ). In addition, it has been proven that temporal, biotic and abiotic components have considerable influence on the bulk microbiome and the rhizosphere of tomatoes ( Maloney et al, 1997 ; Grunert et al, 2016a ; Grunert et al, 2019 ).…”