Effect of Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora colombiana on plant growth,production, and fruit quality of ‘Maradol’ papaya (Carica papaya L.)

The effect of inoculating ‘Maradol’ papaya plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus mosseae (GM) and Entrophospora colombiana (EC) was assessed. The results showed that both mycorrhizae species increased the number of fruits and yield in papaya plants by 41.9 and 105.2% for GM and 22.1 and 44.1% for EC, respectively, with respect to control plants. GM significantly increased plant height. Sugar content, firmness, color (°Hue), and ripening process of mycorrhized plant fruits were similar to those of the control. Weight loss of mycorrhized plant fruits was considerably less than that of the control. Inoculation of papaya with AMF is recommended, particularly with GM since it increases yield, and fruit weight (45.1%), furthermore, it reduced fruit weight loss during ripening.     

Optimum Level of Nitrogen and Phosphorus to Achieve Better Papaya (Carica papaya var. Solo) Seedlings Growth and Mycorrhizal Colonization

An experiment under greenhouse conditions was carried out to evaluate the best level of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which promote the growth of papaya (Carica papaya L. var. Solo) seedlings without affecting the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) activity. Seedlings of papaya were transplanted to pots inoculated or not with Gigaspora margarita spores at four levels of N (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) and P (0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm). P was amended at the same time of pot filling up with substrate but N was applied weekly. The experiment was harvested after 100 days and plant dry weight together with AMF colonization was measured. The major response on the plant dry weight and height was from the fertilizers (N and P) where it proportionally increased. For the dry weight, at low amounts of nutrients the effects of AMF were greater, but as much as the fertilizer level in soil increased this response decreased. The colonization decreased as the nutrient levels increased, especially the P. The best combination of N and P for plant growth and AMF colonization could be at 50 and 25 ppm, equivalent to 5 and 2.5 kg/10a, respectively.     

The response of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) plants to early inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi at different levels of phosphorus

Summary

Chilli plants cv. Pusa Jwala were inoculated in the nursery beds with three mycorrhizal fungi, Gigaspora calospora, G. margarita and Glomus fasciculatum and transplanted to plots supplied with 0, 25 and 50% of a recommended P level (65 kg ha^?1). Uninoculated plants were also transplanted at 0 (Control) and 100% of.the recommended P level. Plant growth, height, shoot dry weight, uptake of P, root colonization and yield of green chillies were measured. Chilli responded well to inoculation and P. G. margarita best improved growth and yield. Inoculation plus 25 and 50% P were equally better than the control and equal to uninoculated plants at 100% P. As much as 50–75% P can be dispensed with by inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and this represents a considerable economic saving in cost.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation of micropropagated persimmon plantlets

Summary

Growth, development and nutrient status of micropropagated persimmon (Diospyros kaki) ‘Rojo Brillante’ in response to inoculation with two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were studied under nursery conditions. The species of AM fungi were Glomus intraradices and G. mosseae. Shoot growth depression and low root colonization percentage were observed to G. mosseae inoculation. Shoot and root growth enhancements were observed for plants colonised by G. intraradices. Inoculated plantlets with G. intraradices and high level of controlled-release fertilizer signi®cantly decreased shoot height in relation to treatment with low fertilization level. Furthermore, G. intraradices had unique effects on the mineral status of the persimmon plantlets. N and Ca were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, within the shoot tissue of plants colonised by G. intraradices. Early inoculation with G. intraradices appears to favour growth of micropropagated persimmon plantlets.     

Cloning and expression analysis of three genes encoding ubiquitins in papaya (Carica papaya L.)

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit have a short shelf-life due to rapid ripening induced by ethylene, which usually results in a high percentage of product loss. However, little is known about the genetic mechanism of ripening and the attributes of fruit quality. Ubiquitin (UBQ) proteins have received increasing attention because they play important roles in response to ripening and in regulating certain developmental processes in plants. In the present study, three genes encoding UBQ proteins, CpUBI1, CpUBI2, and CpUBI3, were isolated from papaya fruit. The lengths of the cDNAs of CpUBI1, CpUBI2, and CpUBI3 were 1,485 bp, 1,642 bp, and 529 bp, encoding 306, 308, and 156 predicted amino acids, respectively. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the CpUBI1 and CpUBI2 proteins contained four consecutive structural domains of the UBQ superfamily, while CpUBI3 contained a ribosomal domain structure of the S27a superfamily. RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that ethephon treatment increased CpUBI gene expression significantly, compared to 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment and the untreated controls. Levels of CpUBI1 and CpUBI2 gene expression were significantly higher than CpUBI3. These results suggested that CpUBI1, CpUBI2, and CpUBI3 might have different roles during papaya fruit ripening and softening.     

Synergistic effects of modified atmosphere and minimal processing on the keeping quality of pre-cut papaya (Carica papaya L.)

Summary

Pre-cut papaya is a highly perishable product and requires suitable pre-treatment and storage protocols for commercial utilisation. Papaya was peeled, cut into slices (5 cm 0.6 cm 0.7 cm) and surface sanitised with chlorinated water (0.1 g l^–1). The slices were then subjected to minimal processing pre-treatments with a tissue firming agent (1 g l^–1 CaCl₂) for 10 min, anti-microbials (0.4 g l^–1 potassium sorbate and 0.4 g l^–1 sodium benzoate) and anti-browning agents (0.2 g l^–1 ascorbic acid) for 30 min, followed by acidification (7.0 g l^–1 citric acid) for 2 min. The pre-treated slices were kept under UV light (2.5 kJ m^–2 for 10 min) and subsequently packed in a modified atmosphere (3% O₂ + 6% CO₂ + 91% N₂) under partial vacuum (30 kPa), or in air, in polyethylene (PE) pouches (12 cm 10 cm; 25 µm thick; 100 g fill-weight) or in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles (2 l; 500 g fill-weight) with a 2.25 cm² silicone membrane diffusion window. Samples were stored at 6° ± 1°C and analysed for changes in their physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes, along with their head-space gaseous composition. The pre-treatments acted synergistically with the modified atmospheres to stabilise the papaya slices, physiologically, as well as restricting the proliferation of microbes (e.g., total plate counts of coliforms, yeasts and moulds). Physiological stability was characterised by a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in respiration rate, reduced losses of texture and ascorbic acid, delayed increases in electrical conductivity and in colour co-ordinates, without impeding the sensory quality of the product. Pre-treated papaya slices, kept under different modified atmospheres, had storage lives of 44 – 60 d at 6° ± 1°C, which may facilitate bulk storage and long-distance transportation.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities improve the phytochemical quality of strawberry

The application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in strawberry cultivation can improve its growth and development. The objective of this study was to evaluate if strawberry plants in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF communities, obtained from soils collected in reference-sites in the cultivation of this species, differ in their morpho-horticultural performance. Two experiments were carried out: in experiment I (frequency of AMF communities species) the treatments were eight soils containing AMF communities, collected from natural and agricultural ecosystems in reference-sites of strawberry cultivation in southern Brazil, with nine samples per treatment; in experiment II (use of AMF communities in strawberry) the treatments were eight AMF communities and one control (non-mycorrhizal plants), arranged in a completely randomised design, with three replicates. The species Claroideoglomus aff. luteum, C. claroideum, C. etunicatum, Funneliformis mosseae and Glomus sp2 were the most frequent in the studied sites and the morpho-horticultural performance of strawberry plants was improved when plants inoculated with AMF communities. Strawberry plants inoculated with mycorrhizae develop a more profuse root system and fruit anthocyanin content is increased.     

Differences of hyphal and soil phosphatase activities in drought-stressed mycorrhizal trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings

Differences of hyphal and soil phosphatase activities between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants were less studied under drought-stressed (DS) conditions. In a pot experiment, fungal alkaline phosphatase (FALP), and succinate dehydrogenase (FSDH), soil phosphatase activity, both soil and plant P contents were compared in 6.5-month-old trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under 80 days of DS with or without inoculations by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomus diaphanum, Glomus mosseae or Glomus versiforme). Plant growth and biomass production under DS were significantly higher in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Both the FALP and the FSDH activities under DS were significantly reduced in these three Glomus inoculated seedlings. In general, similar soil neutral and alkaline phosphatase activities, but significantly higher soil acid and total phosphatase activities, were exhibited in mycorrhizal than in non-mycorrhizal seedlings under both the well-watered (WW) and the DS. Both leaf and root P contents were significantly higher in the AM colonized seedlings, but soil available P contents were lower in the growth media with AM seedlings. Our results showed that higher hyphal enzymes’ activities, soil acid and total phosphatase activities, and plant P contents in AM colonized seedlings, particularly in Glomus mosseae-colonized seedlings and/or under DS, would result in a better growth of the host plants, which might be the basis for enhancing drought tolerance in plants.     

Changes in free amino acid concentrations in mycorrhizal strawberry plants

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization on free amino acid concentrations in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch., cv.Nohime) plants was investigated using two AMF species [Glomus mosseae (Gm), Gl. aggregatum (Ga)] under phosphorus-supplemented (+P) or non-supplemented (−P) conditions. Ten weeks after AMF inoculation, mycorrhizal plants showed higher values in dry weight of both shoots and roots than did non-mycorrhizal ones among most of the treatments. Shoots and roots of mycorrhizal plants had greater phosphorus concentrations in −P plots, while in +P plots, P concentrations differed little among the inoculation treatments. AMF colonization was greater in plants inoculated with Gm than in plants inoculated with Ga. Total amino acid concentration was higher in most of the plants inoculated with Gm than in non-mycorrhizal ones regardless of P treatment. Serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, leucine and GABA were higher in both mycorrhizal plants in −P plots than in non-inoculated plants. In +P plots, threonine and isoleucine concentrations were greater in both mycorrhizal plants than in non-inoculated ones. Asparagine, glutamic acid, glycine, citrulline, GABA and arginine were greater in plants inoculated with Gm than in non-mycorrhizal ones. These findings verified that inoculation with AMF increases total amino acid concentrations and concentrations of specific amino acids in strawberry plants with or without phosphorus supplementation, though the effects varied with species of mycorrhizal fungus.     

The modification of sex expression in papaya (Carica papaya L.)

Field trials with six times normal nitrogen supply produced a significant increase in the proportion of female papaya plants. The addition of nitrogen to the soil increased the leaf nitrogen content but had no effect on the amino acid content. Leaves of male plants contained more nitrogen than female plants but no difference could be detected in the contents of amino acids in the leaves and flower buds. Foliar application of 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2-chloroethyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride (CCC) resulted in a higher female : male ratio, but maleic hydrazide (MH) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) enhanced maleness. The animal sex hormone stilboesterol dipropionate had no apparent effect on sex expression but the application of testosterone propionate increased the proportion of male plants.     

Mycorrhizal colonization improves onion (Allium cepa L.) yield and water use efficiency under water deficit condition

Most plants benefit from mycorrhizal symbiosis through improvement of water status and nutrient uptake. A factorial experiment with complete randomized blocks design was carried out in greenhouse at Tabriz University, Iran in 2005–2006. Experimental treatments were (a) irrigation interval (7, 9 and 11 days), (b) soil condition (sterile and non-sterile) and (c) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species (Glomus versiforme, Glomus intraradices, Glomus etunicatum) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants as control. Onion (Allium cepa L. cv. Azar-shahr) seeds were sown in sterile nursery and inoculated with fungi species. One nursery left uninoculated as control. Nine weeks old seedlings then were transplanted to the pots. Average pre-irrigation soil water contents reached to about 67, 61.6 and 57.5% of FC corresponding to 7, 9 and 11 days irrigation intervals, respectively. At onion bulb maturity stage (192 days after transplanting), yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and yield response factor (K_y) were determined. The results indicated that AMF colonization increased soil water depletion significantly. G. versiforme under both soil conditions (sterile and non-sterile) and G. etunicatum in sterile soil depleted soil water effectively (P < 0.05). Mycorrhizal fungi improved WUE significantly (P < 0.0001) in both soil conditions. It raised by G. versiforme about 2.4-fold (0.289 g mm⁻¹) in comparison with the control (0.117 g mm⁻¹). G. intraradices and G. etunicatum also had significantly higher WUE than control. Apparently water deficit in 11-day irrigation interval led to lower yield and WUE compared to 9-day interval; the later resulted highest WUE (0.254 g mm⁻¹). Mycorrhizal plants increased seasonal ET significantly due to enhancing in plant growth; G. versiforme in both sterile and non-sterile soil and G. etunicatum in sterile soil had the highest ET. Bulb yield was influenced by irrigation period and fungi species. G. versiforme produced higher yield than other treatments (135.27 g/pot). Mycorrhizal plants in 11-day irrigation interval in spite of suffering from water stress had more bulb yield than non-mycorrhizal plants in all irrigation intervals. Yield in general was higher in 9-day treatments than other irrigating internals significantly (P < 0.05). Onion yield response factor (K_y) was decreased by AMF colonization; implying that symbiosed plants become less responsive to water deficit (longer irrigation interval) compared to the control ones.     

Sap flow in papaya plants: Laboratory calibrations and relationships with gas exchanges under field conditions

In papaya plants a study to quantify the water flow through the trunk is important for to promote a good water management in commercial orchard. The objective was to study the relationship between water flow through the trunk and temperature measurements determined by probes inserted in the papaya plant stem in laboratory. In addition, was possible to study the relationship between sap flow and instantaneous gas exchange in field conditions. We constructed an instrument that maintained a stable water flux through a 0.30 m stem section with a constant pressure, simulating the xylem sap flow through the stem. Water flux was adjusted by varying pressure of water in the stem section. The mathematical model used to fit the relation between K (Granier heat coefficient) values and sap flow density was the exponential model: u = 0.5511 × K^1.9104. Field studies was conducted in a commercial orchard located in North of the State of Rio de Janeiro, with 12 plants in October 2002, and eight plants in January 2003. We verified that instantaneous transpiration, measured by a portable system of gas exchange (porometry), presented a good (R² = 0.75) positive relationship with xylem sap flow. Estimates of papaya sap flow can be obtained by scaling portable photosynthesis system measurements with exposed leaves, however the relationship is non-linear in higher instantaneous transpiration rates. The causes of the non-linear relationship in higher transpiration are discussed. In addition, was possible to obtain a good (R² = 0.76) relationship between net photosynthesis rate and xylem sap flow in papaya field-grown.     

Nutritional and cultural factors affecting rooting of papaya (Carica papaya L.) in vitro

Summary

Experiments were conducted to optimize nutritional and cultural requirements for initiation and growth of roots on papaya in vitro. Axillary shoots were obtained from plants which had been sub-cultured monthly for two years. Root initiation was enhanced when 1 to 2 mm of stem base was removed and shoots were growing actively before transfer to the rooting medium. Decreasing daylength during incubation from 24 h to 12 h promoted root initiation. Within the day temperature range of 22 to 29°C, optimum rooting occurred at 27°C and higher temperatures produced higher mean root weights per shoot. High concentrations of growth factors and the absence of sucrose in the medium both reduced root initiation, however, varying the concentration of sucrose and removing growth factors affected mean root weight per shoot. All media contained a modified de Fossard et al. (1974) basal medium plus 10 μM IBA.     

Morpho-Physiological Responses of Grape Rootstock ‘Dogridge’ to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Under Salinity Stress

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alone or in combination with bacterial consortium (AMF+BC) inoculation prior to induced salinity (NaCl @ 150 or 250 mM) were studied on root growth; plant biomass; leaf area; Na⁺ and K⁺ contents; leaf water potential (Ψ_w); osmotic potential (Ψ_π); photosynthesis rate (P_n); and contents of chlorophyll, phytohormones, and polyamines in the grape rootstock ‘Dogridge’, popular among Indian vine growers. AMF inoculation in the NaCl untreated rootstocks plants increased root growth, root and shoot biomass, and leaf area and improved leaf Ψ_w, Ψ_π, P_n, and chlorophyll content, and also countered the stress-induced decline in the NaCl treated plants. The abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, and polyamine-spermidine and spermine contents in the leaves of NaCl untreated or treated were significantly increased by the AMF inoculation. Among the treatments, AMF with BC was relatively more effective than AMF alone with respect to changes in above morpho-physiological characters. The results depicted that AMF (AMF alone or AMF+BC) inoculation significantly improved salinity tolerance of grape rootstock and tolerance is induced by improvements in plant water balance, K⁺:Na⁺ ratio, and P_n, besides distinct accumulations in ABA and polyamines-spermine and spermidine. The above findings have potential in suggesting the AMF usefulness in improving the efficacy of ‘Dogridge’ rootstock in grape cultivation under salt affected soils.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth,mineral nutrition,antioxidant enzymes activity and fruit yield of tomato grown under salinity stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying alleviation of salt stress by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus mosseae. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Zhongzha105) plants were cultivated in soil with 0, 50 and 100 mM NaCl. Mycorrhization alleviated salt induced reduction of root colonization, growth, leaf area, chlorophyll content, fruit fresh weight and fruit yield. The concentrations of P and K were higher in AM compared with nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. Na concentration was lower in AM than nonAM plants grown under nonsaline and saline conditions. AMF colonization was accompanied by an enhancement of activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in leaves of both salt-affected and control plants. In addition, inoculation with AMF caused reduction in MDA content in comparison to salinized plants, indicating lower oxidative damage in the colonized plants.     

Callus Initiation in the Propagation of Papaya (Carica Papaya L.) in Vitro

Papaya tissue excised from a sexually differentiated plant could not proliferate in vitro due to the exudation of latex. Stem segments of young papaya seedlings successfully formed callus on a modified Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with NAA.     

Papaya yellow leaf curl virus: A newly identified begomovirus infecting Carica papaya L. from the Indian Subcontinent

India is one of the world’s largest producers of papaya. Viruses, mainly begomoviruses and potyviruses, cause a significant loss in papaya production. The study described here has identified a new species of begomovirus and a new species of betasatellite infecting Carica papaya in India. The sequences of the begomovirus and betasatellite show 90.03% nucleotide sequence identity to an isolate of Radish leaf curl virus and 92.25% identity to an isolate of Tomato leaf curl betasatellite, respectively. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of begomovirus sequence of isolate DP2 (KX353622) showed distant relationships with previously characterised begomoviruses. Recombination analysis proposed six recombination breakpoints in begomovirus genome with other geographical begomovirus isolates.     

Post-harvest treatment with Ca-phosphite reduces anthracnose without altering papaya fruit quality

This study assessed the effect of phosphites (Mg, Zn, Ca, K) on papaya (‘Sunrise Solo’) anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). Surface-sterilised wounded (2mm) fruits were inoculated (50µL; 10⁶ con/mL) with C. gloeosporioides and then the products were applied. The lesion diameters (LD) and the physico-chemical properties were analysed. Assays in vitro and in vivo were carried out with phosphites. The results in vitro indicated that the phosphites were effective in reducing the mycelial growth and conidia production for all doses [Phosphite Mg – 0.75, 1.5, 3 ml/l (40% P₂O₅ + 6% Mg) Fitofos Mg; Phosphite Zn - 1.25, 2.5, 5 ml/l (40% P₂O₅ + 10% Zn)]; Phosphite Ca - 1.5, 3, 6 ml/l (30% P₂O₅ + 7% Ca)]; Phosphite K - 1.25, 2.5, 5 ml/l (40% P₂O₅ + 20% K₂O)]. Concentration experiments on disease control showed that Phosphite-Ca at 6 ml/l (30% P₂O₅ + 7% Ca) significantly reduced the LD. Fruit treated with phosphite-Ca maintained physico-chemical properties of papaya fruits.     

Selection and testing of epiphytic yeasts to control anthacnose in post-harvest of papaya fruit

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is a major post-harvest disease in papaya fruit. The major objectives of the present work were to isolate, select and test the in vitro and in vivo ability of epiphytic microorganisms, isolated from papaya fruit and leaf surfaces, in controlling anthracnose onset after harvest. A total of 75 bacteria, 67 yeasts and 22 mycelial fungi were isolated. Thirty yeast isolates were able to inhibit the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioide in vitro and seven of those were used in in vivo assays, resulting in the identification of two very effective isolates. Isolate CEN63, identified molecularly as Cryptococcus magnus, was the most effective in controlling the disease and therefore was studied in more detail. The results of the assays with C. magnus provided evidence that when fruit were treated with the antagonists at concentrations of 10⁷ to 10⁸ cells/ml, as early as 24 h, preferentially 48 h, before inoculation with the pathogen, the development of disease was significantly reduced. C. magnus is a potential antagonist for the development of a commercial product. Additional studies on the modes of action of this yeast isolate, as on its ability to interact with fungicides are being conducted to generate solid basis for the development of an environmentally friendly control agent.