title: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improved growth and nutritional quality of greenhouse-grown lettuce.
abstract: Lettuce can be associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This symbiosis involves a molecular dialogue between fungus and plant that includes the activation of antioxidant, phenylpropanoid, or carotenoid pathways. The objective of this study was to test if the association of lettuce with AMF benefited plant growth and increased the contents of compounds potentially beneficial for human health. Results showed that AMF improved growth of lettuce, thus producing a dilution effect on the concentrations of some mineral nutrients (e.g., Ca and Mn). However, Cu, Fe, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and, to a lesser extent, phenolics appeared in higher concentrations (on a wet basis) in mycorrhizal than in nonmycorrhizal plants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Biología Vegetal, Sección Biología Vegetal (Unidad Asociada al CSIC, EEAD, Zaragoza e ICVV, Logroño), Facultades de Ciencias y Farmacia, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marouane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baslam
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garmendia
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goicoechea
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018545:Lactuca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008903:Minerals; D010636:Phenols; D002338:Carotenoids