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Effects of single and mixed inoculation with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two different levels of phosphorus supply on β-carotene concentrations in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) tubers

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Abstract

Aims

This study aimed to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and phosphorus (P) supply levels on β-carotene concentrations in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) tubers.

Methods

Two commercial AM fungal isolates of Glomus intraradices (IFP Glintra) and Glomus mosseae (IFP Glm) which differ in their life cycles were used. Sweet potato plants were grown in a horizontal split-root system that consisted of two root compartments. A root-free fungal compartment that allowed the quantification of mycelial development was inserted into each root compartment. The two root compartments were inoculated either with the same or with different AM isolates, or remained free of mycorrhizal propagules. Each fungal treatment was carried out in two P supply levels.

Results

In the low P supply level, mycorrhizal colonization significantly increased β-carotene concentrations in sweet potato tubers compared with the non-mycorrhizal plants. Glomus intraradices appeared to be more efficient in increasing β-carotene concentrations than G. mosseae. Dual inoculation of the root system with the two mycorrhizal fungi did not result in a higher increase in tuber β-carotene concentrations than inoculation with the single isolates. Improved P nutrition led to higher plant tuber biomass but was not associated with increased β-carotene concentrations.

Conclusions

The results indicate a remarkable potential of mycorrhizal fungi to improve β-carotene concentrations in sweet potato tubers in low P fertilized soils. These results also suggest that β-carotene metabolism in sweet potato tubers might be specifically activated by root mycorrhizal colonization.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by China Scholarship Council. We appreciate technical assistance in laboratory work by Andrea Jankowsky, Susanne Jeserigk and Kerstin Bieler. We thank Dr. Michael H. Walter (Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle) for the helpful discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e.V., Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany

    Yu Tong, Elke Gabriel-Neumann, Benard Ngwene, Angelika Krumbein, Susanne Baldermann, Monika Schreiner & Eckhard George

  2. Department of Crop Sciences, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10099, Berlin, Germany

    Yu Tong & Eckhard George

  3. Department of Aridland Agriculture, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UAE University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

    Elke Gabriel-Neumann

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  1. Yu Tong
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  2. Elke Gabriel-Neumann
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Correspondence to Yu Tong.

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Tong, Y., Gabriel-Neumann, E., Ngwene, B. et al. Effects of single and mixed inoculation with two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in two different levels of phosphorus supply on β-carotene concentrations in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) tubers. Plant Soil 372, 361–374 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1708-y

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