Yield and nutrient content of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as influenced by Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus mosseae inoculation

Recent trends in soil microbiology suggest that fungal inoculants such as Trichoderma harzianum or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to improve yield and fruit quality of crops. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculating tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with T. harzianum and the AMF (Glomus mosseae) on yield and nutrient content of tomato fruit. A factorial experiment (3 x 3) with three application timings for each of T. harzianum and AMF, namely uninoculated control, inoculated before sowing and two weeks after sowing, giving nine treatment combinations was conducted in a greenhouse. Both T. harzianum and AMF increased total yield and marketable yield of tomato (P > 0.05). Inoculating tomato with AMF before sowing significantly increased the percentage of extra-large fruit, while inoculation with T. harzianum two weeks after sowing lowered the Ca and Mg contents of tomato fruit. T. harzianum and AMF inoculation increased the lycopene content, but did not affect the antioxidant activity, total flavonoids or vitamin C of the tomato fruit. Results of this study suggested that T. harzianum and AMF have the potential to influence yield and nutrient content of tomato in a greenhouse. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.