AArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and vermicompost on papaya (Carica papaya L) plant growth in greenhouse

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and the application of vermicompost (V), on papaya (Carica papaya L) plant growth in greenhouse.

Design/methodology/approach: Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), a Barranca de las Nueces (BN) native consortium and without AMF with three proportions of vermicompost in the substrate (0, 1 and 10% v/v), were evaluated using a completely randomized bifactorial design. After 90 days of establishment, variables of plant growth and mycorrhizal colonization were recorded. A variance analysis and Tukey test (P?0.05) of data were made.

Results:  A significant effect of the vermicompost factor and the interaction of the factors (AMF x V) was found. The largest size of the plants with the highest proportion of vermicompost was recorded. The highest colonization was achieved with the BN inoculum. Regarding the interaction, it was found that the growth of the plants was greater as the vermicompost increased, but this was affected by the AMF inoculum.

Limitations on study/implications: No significant effect of the inoculum factor on the growth of the plants was found and the application of vermicompost to the substrate limits the AMF plant growth promoting.

Findings/conclusions: The growth of papaya plants was favored by inoculation with AMF, but is determined by the amount of organic matter present in the substrate. High concentrations of vermicompost limit the benefit that mycorrhiza can contribute to the growth of papaya in greenhouse.