Determination of mycorrhizal dependency of lulo [Determinación de la dependencia micorrizal del lulo]

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine the mycorrhizal dependency of lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.). An experimental design completely randomized was used, treatments were arranged in factorial combination 3x2, which consisted of the combination of three soil solution phosphorus (P) concentration (0.002, 0.02 and 0.2 mg L-1) and two levels of inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus aggregatum (inoculated and uninoculated). Foliar P content was monitored as a function of time. At harvest, shoot and root dry weight, shoot P content, mycorrhizal colonization, mycorrhizal dependency, and root morphology were determined. The results indicated that lulo can be classified as moderately dependent on the mycorrhizal association. However, increases in soil solution P concentration decreased the mycorrhizal dependency of all plants. All inoculated plants showed mycorrhizal colonization. None of the control plants (uninoculated) exhibited mycorrhizal colonization. Increases in soil solution P significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonization. Mycorhizal inoculation significantly modified the root morphology. At 0.002 and 0.02 mg L-1 root length and surface area significantly increased with the inoculation.