In a greenhouse study, in which a sterile 1:1 v/v clay loam:sand mixture was used as substrate, it was observed that out of seven AMF consortia native to the rhizosphere of Agave cupreata, only one significantly increased growth and had a bioprotective effect by reducing the severity of Phytophthora capsici L., in chili bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) var. plants compared to control plants not inoculated with AMF and plants to which a commercial inoculant Rhizophagus intraradices was applied.
▶ Incidentally, it would be interesting to observe the response that this introduced AMF species will generate in the growth of Pepón bell pepper var. under the conditions in which this research will be carried out. However, the consortia evaluated are native isolates from the locality where the study was established, but they were not collected from the rhizosphere of a chili bell pepper plantation located in that locality; perhaps, if the consortium had come from the rhizosphere of chili bell pepper, its response would have been even more promising.
▶ Credits: mdpi. – [Image of Public Domain]
On the contrary, it was found that the foreign arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculant they used (Glomus claroideum), and not the native ones, significantly increased the vigor, height, weight and leaf area of the chili bell pepper plants cv. Cacho de Cabra, growing under both sterile and non-sterile soil conditions in the greenhouse. In addition, this inoculant introduced increased the production and quality of the fruit.
The authors attribute the response obtained to a lower competitive or synergistic capacity of the native AMF with respect to the soil microbiota, since in non-sterile soil conditions their positive effects were not evident, while in sterile soil, although they were not as efficient as G. claroideum, they did show, in relation to the non-inoculated or control treatment.
A statistically positive response in the variables plant diameter, stem and root biomass, fruit weight and nutrient absorption, such as P, Ca, Mg, K, Na. Perhaps it could be inferred that G. claroiduem was functionally compatible with Cacho de Cabra bell pepper and Rhizophagus intraradices does not possess functional specificity with Serrano and Poblano peppers; while, in the rhizosphere of Agave cupreata plants there are some native species that could be compatible with certain species of the genus Capsicum, as occurred with the Serrano and Poblano peppers.
In other words, it is possible that even more relevant than the origin of the inoculants and their possible ability to adapt to the environment, is the AMF-host functional compatibility.
NOTE: Reference material.