Efecto de la micorrización sobre el crecimiento de plántulas de plátano en sustrato con y sin la presencia de nematodos fitoparásitos

We compared the effect of pre-inoculation with the following arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), on the growth of vegetative propagules (suckers) of plantain (Musa AAB): 1) Glomus fistulosum, 2) Glomus fasciculatum, and 3) commercial inoculum (mixture of G. aggregatum, G. fistulosum, G.manihotis, G. fasciculatum, Kuklosplora colombiana and Scutellospora spp.), compared with a control without AMF, in substrate with and without the presence of Radopholus similis and Helicotylenchus spp.. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of AMF on the final amount of plant parasitic nematodes in roots and rhizosphere soil. The results indicated a significant intensification in the mycorrhizal colonization in roots inoculated with commercial inoculum of AMF (40 - 41%) compared with control and other AMFs (<3%). There were over 30% of increase in fresh weight of roots and dry matter (corm and air tissue) variables, in plants inoculated with commercial AMF, even in the presence of plant parasitic nematodes. The final amount of plant parasitic nematodes was not affected by the inoculation of AMF. We conclude that mycorrhizal fungi species’ mixture, present within the AMF commercial inoculum, stimulated root growth and nutrient uptake, thereby improving biomass production and offsetting the damage by plant parasitic nematodes.