Author
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Makus, Donald |
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Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/2004 Publication Date: 3/26/2004 Citation: Makus, D.J. 2004. Mycorrhizal inoculation of tomato and onion transplants improves earliness. Proceedings XXVI IHC-Transplant Production and Stand Establishment. Acta Horticulturae. p. 631. Interpretive Summary: Arbuscular mycorrhizae are fungi which colonize most species of plant roots. The association is usually beneficial to both the fungus and the host plant. After three growing seasons between 1999 and 2001, studies involving the inoculation of tomato plants with a commercially available mycorrhizal fungus resulted in enhanced early season yields. This production tool would be an advantage to fresh market tomato growers. In most of the studies, cumulative season yields were not affected. Benefits derived from inoculating plants with the fungus were obtained by either seeding in seedling flats containing inoculum or adding the fungus at transplanting. Onions planted late in the season also benefitted by mycorrhizal inoculation and stored as well as non-inoculated onion transplants. Technical Abstract: Field experiments were conducted near Weslaco, TX, (Lat. 26 degrees 8' N) between 1999 and 2001 in order to evaluate the field performance of pre- and post-mycorrhizal- inoculated tomato and onion (2001, only) transplants. In 1999, >Heatmaster= tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.) transplants were inoculated at 17 kg/ha with Glomes intraradices (Reforestation Technologies, Salinas, CA) at transplanting; in 2000, >Heatmaster= and >Florida 47' plants were treated at transplanting and exposed to two irrigation regimes; and in 2001, >Heatmaster= plants were either pre- or post-transplant inoculated and grown in a light (Hebbronville) or heavy (Raymondville) textured soil. In all years, cumulative fruit yield from mycorrhizal-treated plants were significantly greater by the second and/or third harvests, but final season yield, fruit number and average fruit weight were usually similar to controls. Marketable yield and fruit number tended to improve when plants were treated with mycorrhizae. Onion (Allium cepa, L.) cultivars, Granex 1015Y and Terlingua, inoculated with mycorrhizae in a seedling mix or at transplanting and planted in Hebbronville and Raymondville soils tended to have greater yields and accelerated maturation, but bulb soluble solids at harvest were similar when compared to uninoculated plants. Bulbs from mycorrhizal-treated plants were more uniform in diameter. Bulbs stored at 13.2 C for 120 days suffered less soluble solids and weight loss if they were from mycorrhizal-treated plants. Bulb sprouting was not affected by any treatment. |
