Comprehensive Analysis of Nematode-Plant-Mycorrhizal Fungus System for Bio Based Products Development

Abstract Nacobbus aberrans is a plant parasite that causes significant economic losses in the Americas and is considered a quarantine pest in many countries worldwide. Some mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to have the ability to decrease the population of this pathogen, however, most studies have focused on quantifying N. aberrans population variations without considering the effects on the crop or the possibilities of survival of the mycorrhizal fungi. This work consisted of selecting a mycorrhizal fungus strain based on a comprehensive analysis of the Nematode-Plant-Mycorrhizal Fungus system. The test was conducted on Solanum licopersicum, grown in 10-liter pots. The mycorrhizal fungi inoculation was done at planting, and the nematode inoculation was done at the time of transplanting. The evaluated strains were Funneliformis moseeae, Rhizoglomus intraradices A2, and Rhizoglomus intraradices B1. During the crop cycle, net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were quantified. After removing the plants, biomass weight, stem diameter, chlorophyll concentration, soluble proteins, malonyldialdehyde, proline, phenol content, and relative conductivity were determined in leaf and root tissues. Regarding the nematode population, the number of eggs, mobile forms, final population, and reproduction factor were analyzed. Regarding the mycorrhizal fungus, the percentage of mycorrhization and viability of fungal structures for each treatment were quantified. The analysis of all the mentioned variables contributed to determine that the strain with the highest capacity to compensate for the negative effects of parasitism in the crop, with high possibilities of survival in the substrate and capable of decreasing the population of Nacobbus aberrans, is Funneliformis moseeae.