Response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to nursery inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under field conditions

Abstract

The effect of nursery inoculation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with Trichoderma harzianum and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus mosseae on fungal root colonization, plant growth, yield and quality of field grown tomato was investigated. The four treatments included T. harzianum, AMF, T. harzianum + AMF, and uninoculated control. At mid-harvest, 84 days after transplanting, no interactive effect of the fungi on the external mycelium growth was observed. Inoculation with AMF alone or in combination with T. harzianum increased dry shoot weight by 35% and 30%, respectively, during the first season, and by 30% and 21%, respectively, during the second growing season. Trichoderma harzianum increased the percentage of large fruit by 76% in 2008–2009, whereas AMF increased the percentage of extra-large fruit by 44% in 2009–2010. Similarly, AMF increased total soluble solids by 10%. Inoculated tomato seedlings with T. harzianum and/or AMF significantly increased early yield of tomato, by 10%, 65% and 70%, respectively, during 2008–2009, and by 27%, 36% and 37%, respectively during the 2009–2010 growing season. In conclusion, results of the study suggested that T. harzianum and AMF have the potential to improve growth, early yield and fruit quality of field-grown tomato.