Arbuscular mycorrhiza potentiates the quality of fruits but does not influence the precocity of goldenberry plants / A micorriza arbuscular potencializa a qualidade de frutos mas não influencia a precocidade de plantas de fisális

The alternative to minimize the impacts to the agroecosystem and to establish a sustainable management for the goldenberry cultivation (Physalis peruviana L.) corresponds to the use of inoculants based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, this biotechnological tool is lacking and unknown to producers. The objective of the research was to investigate whether goldenberry plants in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF differ in their horticultural potential. The treatments were absence of inoculation (control) and three mycorrhizal inoculants, arranged in a randomized block design, with five replications. The phyllochron, mycorrhizal colonization and fruit quality were evaluated. Non-mycorrhized plants had a higher leaf appearance rate and, therefore, a lower phyllochron value. Mycorrhizal colonization was greater in roots of plants produced with Glomus intraradices. Less acid and more tasty fruits were produced by plants inoculated with AMF, regardless of the fungal treatment used. In conclusion, goldenberry plants in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF have different horticultural potential. Plants devoid of arbuscular mycorrhiza are earlier to start flowering. The fungal species G. intraradices is more effective in colonizing the roots of the plant host. Plants submitted to mycorrhizal biotechnology potentiate the chemical quality of berries

Agronomic performance of strawberry cultivated in substrate with rock powder / Desempenho agronômico de morangueiro cultivado em substrato com pó-de-rocha

Although different studies have shown beneficial effects of using rock powder on plants, no research has been done to determine the influence of adding this input to the strawberry growing substrate (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.). Thus, we investigated whether proportions of rock powder added to the cultivation substrate interfere in the agronomic performance of strawberry. The treatments tested were five proportions of rock powder (0%, 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% of the volume of the container). The experiment was designed in randomized blocks, with four replications. The supply of fertigation was reduced by half in order to verify whether the rock powder would be able to supply part of the nutrient demand required by the strawberry. The determination coefficient obtained was 0.83, indicating that the total production of fruits (TP) was explained in 83% by the proportions of rock powder added. We also observed that TP decreased linearly with the increase in the proportion of rock powder added to the cultivation substrate. TP was also negatively associated with the increase in the density of the culture media. In conclusion, increasing amounts of rock powder added to the cultivation substrate create a denser environment, not providing the necessary quantities for the development of the strawberry and this reduces its productive potential