Negative effect of saline irrigation on yield components and phytochemicals of pepper (Capsicum annuum) inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The effect of two consortia of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from huizache (Acacia sp.) plants (HMA1) and an association between Larrea tridentata and Opuntia sp. (HMA2), both native of the Chihuahuan Desert, on the yield components and fruit phytochemical content of Jalapeo var. M pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) subjected to saline stress, was evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The experiment had two factors: AMF (HMA-, HMA1 and HMA2) and salinity levels (control, 4 and 8 dS m-1) of a NaCl and CaCl2 solution. Each treatment had nine replications. The number of spores per gram of soil were counted and pepper plants were inoculated with 40,000 spores each. Salinity was applied 30 d after the inoculation for eight consecutive weeks. Phosphorus was applied with a solution of 44 mg L-1 of KH2PO4 for non-inoculated plants and 22 mg L-1 for inoculated ones. Colonization at the end of the experiment oscillated between 22 and 32 % in inoculated plants. The AMF factor had a negative effect on the number of fruits, however yields were not affected regarding fresh fruit weight. Salinity had a negative effect on fresh fruit weight. AMF significantly increased the content of phosphorus and ascorbic acid, without affecting the development and physiology of the plant in spite of the reduced amount of exogenous phosphorus applied. Phosphorus concentration was higher in plants inoculated with HMA2. The factors salinity and AMF had a significant effect on the concentration of phenols and ascorbic acid in the fruits. Higher salinity decreased the concentration of ascorbic acid in fruits but increased the concentration of total phenols. The content of capsaicinoids was not affected by any of the factors.

published proceedings

  • Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana

author list (cited authors)

  • Grimaldo-Pantoja, G. L., Niu, G., Sun, Y., Castro-Rocha, A., lvarez-Parrilla, E., Flores-Mrgez, J. P., Corral-Daz, B., & Osuna-vila, P.

complete list of authors

  • Grimaldo-Pantoja, GL||Niu, G||Sun, Y||Castro-Rocha, A||álvarez-Parrilla, E||Flores-Márgez, JP||Corral-Díaz, B||Osuna-ávila, P

publication date

  • January 2017