ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ON GROWTH, FRUIT YIELD, AND QUALITY OF CHERRY TOMATO UNDER GLASSHOUSE CONDITIONS

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, flower, fruit production, and fruit quality on Cherry tomato plants (Solanum, lycopersicum L.) were studied under glasshouse conditions. This is to find out the most promising AMF that could promote the growth and yield of Cherry tomatoes. The inoculation of 7 AMF indigenous species; Glomus sp.1, Glomus sp.2, Glomus sp.3, Glomus mosseae, Acaulospora sp.1, Entrophospora schenckii, Scutellospora fulgida, and distilled water as a control were performed on Cherry tomatoes. The single spores of mycorrhizal fungi were collected using the pot maize technique. Results showed that all AMF species were able to colonize on tomato roots. The Gloms mosseae gave the highest growth and fruit quality compared with all other treatments. G. mosseae could increase the height up to 79.04 cm on the 66th day after planting and the flowers numbered 67.5 flowers per plant. Finally it gave fruits numbered at 24.0 fruit per plant on the 87th day after planting. Furthermore, G. mosseae gave a significantly higher fruit weight and fruit diameter at 21.36 g per fruit and 31.53 mm per fruit, respectively. In addition, the quality of fruit and total soluble solid and ascorbic acid were 5.75 % brix and 272 mg per 100 g, respectively, which were also significantly higher than other species.