The Effects of ArbuscularMycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) as Biofertilizer on the Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Tomato (LycopersiconesculentumMill.)

The Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) as Biofertilizer on the Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) PRECELITA L. OSILLOS1/ and ASUNCION L. NAGPALA 2/ 1/ College of Arts and Sciences, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, South La Union Campus, Agoo, La Union; School of Natural Sciences, Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines Email: precy_osillos@yahoo.com; +639237428705 2/ College of Agriculture, Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines Abstract. This study was conducted to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of tomato. AMF from the rhizosphere soil of wild legumes and cogon were trapped using corn roots as bait then isolated through wet sieving and sucrose centrifugation methods. Isolated spores of Gigaspora and Acaulospora dominated by Acaulospora laevis and colonized corn roots having a colonization rate of 86% were used as inoculants. The experiment utilized a completely randomized design with six treatments replicated three times. Data were evaluated using Levene?s test and ANOVA. Means with significant differences were compared using LSD and Games-Howell. Results showed that tomatoes inoculated with different preparations of AMF resulted to a faster increase in height, higher number of leaves and tallest plants from the 2nd week to the 10th week after inoculation. AMF application also resulted to earlier flower onset and fruit emergence. Inoculated plants had the highest yield of marketable fruits while those grown with the farmer?s practice gave the highest yield of non-marketable fruits. Leaves of inoculated plants had the highest amount Phosphorus (P), lower percentage of tissue Nitrogen (N), and higher Potassium (K) content as compared to the control. AMF inoculation did not affect soil pH but decreased the soil electrical conductivity (EC), K, P and gave the lowest increase of percent organic matter. Colonization was seen in all the plants treated with AMF, with T2 (100 AMF spores + 0.25 g colonized corn roots) registering the highest rate. Keywords: AMF, colonized roots, biofertilizer, tomato, Acaulospora