Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on storage metabolites, mineral nutrition, and nitrogen-assimilating enzymes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plant

Mycorrhizae are fungal symbionts forming mutualistic relationship with plant roots. In this study, surface-sterilized potato tubers were sown in earthen pots filled with sterile soil. Half of the pots were inoculated with sterilized arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores and sterilized inoculated maize root fragments, and another half without any AMF inoculation representing control. Inoculation was done twice 3days before sowing the tubers and on the onset of seedling emergence. Plants, along with their controls, were sampled at 20-day intervals upto 80 days after tuber initiation. The tubers of potato are shown to present a higher level of metabolites and mineral nutrition in the mycorrhizal inoculated compared to the non-inoculated. The results showed that AMF has a potential in enhancing potato production by increasing the storage metabolites, mineral nutrition in tubers and nitrogen assimilating enzymes in plant.