The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation affects plant growth and flavonoid content in tomato plant (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.)

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is one of the most important vegetables to supply nutritional needs that can be cultivated worldwide. This study was conducted to increase tomato plant growth and flavonoid content by applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The experiment used a randomized block design with six treatments of AMF concentrations, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/kg of planting media. Tomato seeds were soaked in water for 1 h and then sown for 4 weeks. The seedlings with four leaves were transferred into a sterilized media previously inoculated with AMF and then were grown in a greenhouse for 10 weeks to observe growth parameters, AMF-infected root, and the total content of flavonoids. Analysis data used analysis of variance followed by the Duncan multiple range test. The result showed that AMF application into the media significantly increased the tomato plant growth parameters, AMF-infected root percentage, and flavonoid content. A 10-g AMF treatment has the best effect in this study, resulting in a plant height of 78.93 cm, stem diameter of 1.35 cm, number of leaves of 14.50, leaf area of 3861.02 cm2, leaf color scale of 3.7, plant dry weight of 1.24 g, root length of 22.42 cm, AMF-infected root of 55%, and flavonoid content of 0.053 mg/g.