Arbuscular mycorrhiza improves yield and nutritional properties of onion (Allium cepa).
Improving the nutritional value of commonly cultivated crops is one of the most pending problems for modern agriculture. In natural environments plants associate with a multitude of fungal microorganisms that improve plant fitness. The best described group are arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi have been previously shown to improve the quality and yield of several common crops. In this study we tested the potential utilization of Rhizophagus irregularis in accelerating growth and increasing the content of important dietary phytochemicals in onion (Allium cepa). Our results clearly indicate that biomass production, the abundance of vitamin B1 and its analogues and organic acid concentration can be improved by inoculating the plant with AM fungi. We have shown that improved growth is accompanied with up-regulated electron transport in PSII and antioxidant enzyme activity.
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Kraków, Poland.
Piotr
P
Rozpądek
Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Maria
M
Rąpała-Kozik
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Wężowicz
Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Anna
A
Grandin
Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Stefan
S
Karlsson
Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Rafał
R
Ważny
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Teresa
T
Anielska
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.turnau@uj.edu.pl.
Katarzyna
K
Turnau
D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D019697:Onions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013831:Thiamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D010710:Phosphates; D013831:Thiamine
Allium cepa; Biofortification; Organic acids; PSII efficiency; Rhizophagus irregularis; Thiamine