@PHDTHESIS{ 2016:1072201824, title = {Occurrence and applicability of arbuscular mycirrhizal fungi in strawberry}, year = {2016}, url = "http://10.0.217.128:8080/jspui/handle/tede/399", abstract = "Most of the strawberry crop systems use high quantities of inputs. This management practice has become an important factor in determining the profitability of crops, because the cultivars selected in breeding programs have a high potential for productivity and quality in response to these management practices. Strawberry has a high response to fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, and other management practices. A strategy able to contemplate these aspects is the use of beneficial soil microorganisms as arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, able to colonize plant roots and thus establish mutualistic association with plants. The use of AM fungi in horticulture is important, particularly, due to the ability of these fungi to increase the absorption of nutrients, resistance to diseases and environmental stresses. In order to know the effects of these microorganisms the present study aimed to assess whether there is diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in soil under strawberry cultivation and inoculation with these fungi affects the growth in different stages of development, production and fruit quality. Five experiments were carried out with the following objectives: 1) survey the occurrence of AM fungal species present in different sites under strawberry crop; (2) test if AM fungi inoculation in strawberry plants affect leaf appearance rate and phyllochron during development stages; (3) evaluates the effect of AM fungi inoculation on growth, development and yield of strawberry growing under soilless system conditions; (4) test if inoculation with AM fungi could increase quality parameters of strawberry fruits growing under soilless system conditions; (5) test AM fungi inoculation of micropropagated strawberry plantlets in relation to its performance on the field. The first four experiments were carried out at University of Passo Fundo, Brazil, and fifth at Algoma University, Canada. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity, root colonization and inoculum potential in the rhizosphere of strawberry crops show differences among the sites surveyed. The two most frequent species in soils under strawberry crop are Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Funneliformis mosseae. Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in strawberry plants influences the leaf appearance rate and phyllochron during the development stages. However, did not modify biomass production, weight and diameter of strawberry fruit and yield. In contrast, the introduction of AM fungi into strawberry plants, during transplant in soilless growth system, increases the fruit quality parameters such as content of total phenolic, anthocyanins and flavonols and also the antioxidant activity. On the other hand, inoculation during acclimatization of strawberry plantlets does not influence plant establishment, growth and runner formation in the field. However, a lot still needs to be elucidated in relation to this fungus and how we can explore these microorganisms in order to maximize production and quality and minimize environmental impacts.", publisher = {Universidade de Passo Fundo}, scholl = {Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia}, note = {Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária – FAMV} }