Abstract
Blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) have a superficial and compact root system without root hairs. As such, these plants form symbiotic associations with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (EMF), which allow the increase of water and nutrients´uptake. As natural colonization is often low and dependent on plant cultivar and agronomic practices, plant external inoculation with fungi enriched media has been used in the past decades by blueberry growers to increase the load of symbiotic fungi. However, the symbiotic relationship between blueberry plants and EMF is still greatly unexplored and how these microsymbionts enhance plant growth and nutrition has yet to be elucidated. In this work, two blueberry cultivars (‘Aurora’ and ‘Duke’) were inoculated with a commercial EMF mixture. Approximately 14 months after inoculation root colonization rate was evaluated and several biometric (dry weight, plant height, stem diameter and root length), physiological (leaf chlorophyll content) and nutritional (concentration of inorganic minerals) parameters were registered in plants submitted to inoculation with EMF and control plants. Results showed that the percentage of root fresh weigh naturally colonized by ericoid fungi was ca. 30 % for both cultivars (control plants), increasing to 56 % in ‘Aurora’ and 44 % in ‘Duke’ after EMF addition. In inoculated ‘Aurora’ plants there was a significant increase in total dry weight of the roots (48 %) and stem (31 %), compared with control plants. Likewise, a significant increase in plant height and root length was also observed. In cv. ‘Duke’, inoculation did not induce significant alterations in any of the biometric parameters analysed. Plant inoculation enhanced Mo accumulation in roots and K in stem and leaves in cv, ‘Aurora’ and increased Mn, Fe and Cu concentration in roots and stem (in some cases by 280 %) in cv. ‘Duke’. Inoculation of blueberry plants with ericoid fungi has a clear potential to stimulate plant growth and nutrient uptake; however, its efficiency seems to be dependent on plant cultivar.
| Original language | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | V Colóquio Nacional da Produção de Pequenos Frutos |
| Publisher | Associação Portuguesa de Horticultura (APH) |
| Pages | 51-59 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789728936204 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2016 |
| Event | V Colóquio Nacional da Produção de Pequenos Frutos - Portugal, Oeiras, Portugal Duration: 21 May 2021 → 22 May 2021 https://aphorticultura.pt/vicnppf/ |
Publication series
| Name | Actas Portuguesas de Horticultura |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Associação Portuguesa de Horticultura |
| Number | 26 |
Conference
| Conference | V Colóquio Nacional da Produção de Pequenos Frutos |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Portugal |
| City | Oeiras |
| Period | 21/05/21 → 22/05/21 |
| Internet address |
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