Effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on gerbera cut flower (gerbera jamesonii) production in soilless cultivation
2014
Nazari Deljou, M.J. | Marouf, A. | Jaberian Hamedan, H.
Increasingly, there is a need for improved nutrient management, to result in higher nutrient uptake by plants and reduced environmental pollution due to nutrient losses, particularly in soilless culture systems. The present investigation was carried out to study the effects of different inoculation levels of substrate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae) (AMF) (0, 3.5 and 7% V/W) on nutrient uptake, yield and postharvest quality of two cultivars of gerbera cut flowers (‘Orange Onion and ‘Malibu’). The factorial experiment comprised a completely randomized design with 3 replications in a soilless culture system. Results showed that, compared to uninoculated controls, inoculated cultivars had significantly higher leaf area, flower number, and vase life, and also showed higher root colonization rates (P<0.01). More precisely, inoculated cultivars (3.5%) showed 35% higher flower longevity and 41% higher calcium content than control plants. The results of the present study led to the conclusion that application of AMF in soilless culture of gerbera cut flowers can improve nutrient uptake and consequently increase postharvest quality, as well as reduce nutrient losses.
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