INFLUENCE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGIES AND A NATIVE DIAZOTROPHIC BACTERIA IN SURVIVAL AND TUBERIZATION OF EX VITRO POTATO PLANTS

Abstract

The inoculation of several species of micropropagated plantlets with native diazotrophic bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has been reported to increase growth and survival percentage compared to plantlets without inoculation. The survival of in vitro developed potato (Solarium tuberosum L. cv. Alfa) plantlets co-inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd & Trappe, G. claroideum (Schenck & Smith emend. Walker & Vestberg) and a native diazotrophic bacteria was evaluated at room temperature (16-35°C) or in a growth chamber (20-22°C). Obtained plantlets for micropropagation were placed in a peat moss/agrolite (2:1 v/v) mixture, inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (2250 spores plant"') and native diazotrophic bacteria (3 x 10⁸ cell plant"') and grown in the greenhouse at 18±2°C for 4 weeks and at 20-26°C for another 4 weeks. Plantlets were then transferred to near-commercial greenhouse and plant growth and minitubers yield were determined 15 weeks after ex vitro growth. Survival of the plantlets at room temperature doubled when inoculated with the two AM fungi and also biomass and minituber yield of plants compared to untreated plants. It was found that the added microorganisms increased survival of potato plantlets and AM fungi improved potato plant growth and minituber production.