title: Co-inoculation of Glomus intraradices and Trichoderma atroviride acts as a biostimulant to promote growth, yield and nutrient uptake of vegetable crops.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of beneficial microorganisms at transplanting can promote rapid transplant establishment (starter effect) for achieving early and high yields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant effects of Glomus intraradices BEG72 (G) and Trichoderma atroviride MUCL 45632 (T) alone or in combination on plant growth parameters, yield, chlorophyll index (SPAD), chlorophyll fluorescence and mineral composition of several vegetable crops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T. atroviride strain was capable of producing siderophores and auxin-like compounds under a wide range of substrate pH conditions (5.5-8.0). The highest shoot, root dry weight, SPAD and chlorophyll fluorescence in lettuce, tomato and zucchini was observed in the G + T combination, followed by a single inoculation of G or T, whereas the lowest values were recorded in the uninoculated plants. Under greenhouse conditions, the shoot dry weight was significantly increased by 167%, 56%, 115%, 68% and 58% in lettuce, melon, pepper, tomato and zucchini, respectively, when supplied with both beneficial microorganisms in comparison with the control. This increase in root and shoot weight was associated with an increased level of nutrient uptake (e.g. P, Mg, Fe, Zn and B). Under open field conditions, the lettuce shoot and root dry weight increased by 61% and 57%, respectively, with biostimulant microorganism application in field conditions. For zucchini, early and total yields were significantly increased by 59% and 15%, respectively, when plants were inoculated with both microorganisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of the biostimulant tablet containing both G and T can promote transplant establishment and vegetable crop productivity in a sustainable way.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colla
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rouphael
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Mattia
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: El-Nakhel
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardarelli
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D055137:Glomeromycota / Q000502:physiology*; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D018545:Lactuca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D017262:Siderophores / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000502:physiology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D008903:Minerals; D017262:Siderophores; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: SPAD index; Trichoderma atroviride; arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi; inoculation; mineral composition; vegetables