Effects of inoculation with some native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth

In Burkina Faso, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) sector plays a very important socio-economic role. However, its production is confronted by many constraints, among which is the soil poverty in mineral elements such as nitrogen and available phosphorus resulting in an increase in the area of land that is sown for this crop and an increase in the use of chemical inputs. In addition, chemical inputs have shown their limits with several environmental negative impacts. Therefore, this study was initiated to help improve sustainable agricultural production. In this study, tomato was grown in the greenhouse and inoculated with three natives’ mycorrhizal inocula. The growth parameters were measured at 30 and 60 days after sowing. Above-ground, root and total biomass were assessed at 60 days after sowing. The results showed an improvement in height of 164.44%, in the collar diameter of 75.25%, in above ground biomass production of 540%, root biomass of 1061.97% and a total biomass of 638, 1% after inoculation. This study had shown promising results and merits further investigation in situ.   Key words: Tomato, mycorrhizal inoculation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, sustainable agriculture.