TL;DR
Overall, AMF responses depended on the host–fungus combination, with phenolic-associated non-enzymatic antioxidant responses emerging as a prominent feature of the Limachino–D.
Pepper fruits contain diverse primary and secondary metabolites, including ascorbic acid, carotenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids, which contribute to nutritional quality, antioxidant capacity, coloration, and consumer acceptance. Chilaca chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a Mexican cultivar valued for its distinctive flavor and pungency, representing a valuable resource for studying fruit quality and sustainable crop improvement. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth, physiological responses, antioxidant activity, and fruit quality traits. Twelve treatments in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial designs were evaluated for chlorophyll, soluble solids, biomass, APX and LOX activities, and vitamin C and capsaicin contents at three ripening stages (green, mid-red, and red). Enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically, and bioactive compounds were quantified from methanolic fruit extracts. Microbial inoculation primarily improved fruit physiological quality rather than vegetative growth. Biomass and growth traits showed no significant differences among treatments (p > 0.05), whereas biochemical responses exhibited distinct ripening-dependent patterns. APX activity, vitamin C, and capsaicin increased from green to mid-red stages and declined at full ripeness. Bacillus sp.-based treatments (T1 and T2) produced a significant transient increase in LOX activity during mid-ripening, while T7 showed a similar but weaker response. AMF progressively enhanced LOX activity and capsaicin accumulation in green fruits. PGPR effects were strain-dependent, with Bacillus sp. promoting early capsaicin accumulation and A. deleyi favoring higher levels during advanced ripening. Overall, AMF and PGPR differentially regulate antioxidant metabolism, vitamin C accumulation, and capsaicinoid biosynthesis while interacting with mineral fertilization to improve fruit quality. These findings support beneficial microorganisms as sustainable tools for enhancing nutrient-use efficiency and fruit nutritional and functional value without replacing mineral fertilization.
Overall, mycorrhizal fungal inoculation reshaped the chemical composition and the major bioactive compounds of Oregano, thereby enhancing its nutritional and antimicrobial potential.
Abstract Greenhouse tomato cultivation faces challenges such as nutrient imbalance and declining soil health, requiring sustainable biostimulant strategies. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of humic acid (HA) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on tomato growth, yield, and nutritional quality. Tomato plants were subjected to four treatments: control, HA alone, AMF alone, and combined HA+AMF. Growth parameters, biochemical composition, and mineral content were analyzed. Results: The combined HA+AMF treatment significantly enhanced shoot length (+50.4%), root length (+32.1%), fruit yield (+415.2%), and lycopene content (+395.3%) compared to the control. Increases in proteins, sugars, flavonoids, and key minerals (K, P, Mg) were also observed. Molecular analysis confirmed upregulation of stress-related and nutrient transporter genes. The HA+AMF synergy markedly improves tomato productivity and fruit quality, offering an eco-efficient solution for sustainable agriculture in semi-arid conditions..
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant performance under drought, but responses depend on host genotype, fungal isolate, symbiosis duration, and stress intensity. We evaluated whether Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM 197198 mitigated short-term water deficit in the Ivorian plantain cultivar Affoto under greenhouse conditions. Plants were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial combination of inoculation (non-mycorrhizal or R. irregularis) and water supply (100% or 50% substrate water-holding capacity [WHC] replenished daily, or water withheld) for 14 days after a 14-day establishment period. Growth, organ water content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll index, leaf temperature, functional leaves, root colonization, and substrate spore density were quantified. Positive continuous responses were analyzed using log-linear models and heteroscedasticity-robust Type III tests; bounded responses were analyzed using beta or quasibinomial models. Water supply strongly affected total dry biomass (F2,36 = 34.44, P < 0.001), whereas inoculation (P = 0.789) and the inoculation × water-supply interaction (P = 0.946) did not. Mean total dry biomass declined from 104.73 g at 100% WHC to 70.58 g at 50% WHC and 36.02 g when water was withheld. Mycorrhizal growth responses were 2.7%, -4.1%, and -0.4%, respectively, and all 95% bootstrap confidence intervals included zero. AMF mitigation ratios were 0.935 (95% CI 0.627-1.422) at 50% WHC and 0.970 (0.626-1.572) under water withholding. Microscopy confirmed hyphae, vesicles, and arbuscules in inoculated roots, and none in controls; arbuscular abundance across the root system ranged from 24.92% to 31.81%. Thus, fungal establishment occurred, but inoculation did not detectably alter drought-associated biomass loss. Water deficit also reduced tissue hydration, growth dimensions, SPAD, and functional leaf proportion while increasing electrolyte leakage and leaf temperature. For the tested cultivar-isolate combination, following a short establishment period and under severe combined soil-water and atmospheric stress, R. irregularis conferred no detectable mitigation of biomass.
This review critically examines the current knowledge on the functional roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in pistachio production and identified the key knowledge gaps and research priorities required to improve the consistency, scalability, and field validation of microbiome-based approaches for sustainable pistachio production under increasingly challenging environmental conditions.
This study investigated the effects of Sinorhizobium meliloti GAU-93 inoculation on the growth and drought responses of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Alfalfa seeds were inoculated with the GAU-93 strain Sinorhizobium meliloti and subjected to four soil water content levels: 15% (severe drought), 30% (moderate drought), 45% (well-watered control), and 60% (high-moisture condition). Various growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, flavonoid-related traits, and membrane lipid peroxidation were measured. Increasing drought severity reduced plant growth, fresh and dry biomass, and relative water content (RWC). GAU-93 inoculation was associated with smaller reductions in these traits across several water regimes. Inoculated plants also showed higher flavonoid contents and higher expression of several flavonoid biosynthetic genes, including CHS, DFR, F3H, and PAL. In addition, GAU-93 was associated with lower membrane lipid peroxidation and higher antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, these findings suggest that Sinorhizobium meliloti GAU-93 may help alleviate drought-induced oxidative stress and support alfalfa growth under the tested water regimes. This study provides a basis for further evaluation of GAU-93 as a microbial strategy to improve drought tolerance in forage crops.
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