Mycorrhizae enhance minituber weight and nutrient content in potatoes transferred from in vitro to hydroponic culture under different phosphorus levels

Abstract

The survival and productivity of potato plantlets transplanted from in vitro to commercial hydroponic minituber culture are crucial. Mycorrhizal fungi are an efficient tool to enhance potato nutrient uptake, survival, and productivity under these conditions. This study aimed to assess the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on improving the yield of minitubers and nutrient uptake in potatoes transferred from the in vitro environment to the greenhouse. This study was conducted in a greenhouse in Hamadan province, I.R. Iran, in 2013. The experimental design was factorial, including treatments with and without inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and varying phosphorus (P) concentrations in Hoagland’s solution (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of its maximum content, i.e. 0.965, 0.482, 0.241, and 0.12 mM H₂PO₄^-) with three replications on potato plantlets transferred from in vitro to pots. The results indicated that the highest colonization percentage was achieved with 25% P and inoculation. The highest number of minitubers (8.9), total minituber weight per plant (53.2 grams), plant height (54.6 cm), minituber (0.38%) and leaf (0.363%) P content, minituber (33 mg/kg) and leaf (65 mg/kg) manganese (Mn) content, and minituber (38 mg/kg) and leaf (65 mg/kg) zinc (Zn) content were obtained with inoculation and 75% P of Hoagland nutrient solution, which was statistically comparable to the inoculation with 100% P treatment. In summary, inoculating potato plantlets with mycorrhiza can enhance minituber yield and nutrient uptake and potentially replace approximately 50% of the P requirement in hydroponic solutions.

Keywords:

• Mineral elements
• mycorrhizosphere
• potato
• symbiosis

Authors’ contributions

Mostafa Ghobadi: Carried out the experiments, generated the data, wrote the primary manuscript. Mohsen Movahhedi Dehnavi: conceptualized and coordinated the research, conceived the idea, designed and wrote the manuscript. Ali Reza Yadavi: conceived the idea, modified the manuscript. Rahim Motalebifard: conceived the idea, helping for caring out the experiments. Khosro Parvizi: helping for caring out the experiments and final revision. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: