Response of husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) to inoculation with beneficial microorganisms.

Abstract

To evaluate the seedling stage response and yield of husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) to inoculation with different beneficial microorganisms and different forms of inoculation. The experiment was set up under a randomized complete block design, with ten replications per treatment, independently evaluating three biofertilizers: Rhizophagus intraradices, Azospirillum sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens. For each biofertilizer, different inoculation methods were evaluated, including a control treatment without inoculation. The inoculation methods consisted of: 1) application to the substrate, 2) application to the seed, and 3) application by seedling irrigation. The results showed significant differences between inoculation methods, with seed inoculation showing the best response in growth and yield. The highest yield was obtained in the treatments inoculated with R. intraradices, with an increase of 74%. As for bacteria, the best yield was obtained with Azospirillum sp. (21%), followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens (18%). Mycorrhizal inoculation at the seedling stage and prior to transplanting may have favored the performance of the mycorrhizal treatment, making it difficult to make a fair comparison between treatments. The seed inoculation method proved to be the most effective strategy, significantly enhancing both crop growth and yield. Treatments inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus R. intraradices achieved the highest yields in the husk tomato, highlighting the potential of this symbiosis to increase the productivity of this crop.