Field evaluation of the effect of Aspergillus niger on lettuce growth using conventional measurements and a high-throughput phenotyping method based on aerial images.

ABSTRACT: Plant microbiome engineering is a promising tool to unlock crop productivity potential and exceed the yield obtained with conventional chemical inputs. We studied the effect of Aspergillus niger inoculation on in-field lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth in soils with limiting and non-limiting P concentrations. Lettuce plants originating from inoculated seeds showed increased plant diameter (6.9%), number of leaves (8.1%), fresh weight (23.9%), and chlorophyll content (3.8%) as compared to non-inoculated ones. Inoculation of the seedling substrate just before transplanting was equally efficient to seed inoculation, while application of a granular formulation at transplanting did not perform well. Plant response to P addition was observed only up to 150 kg P2O5 ha-1, but A. niger inoculation al

SUBMITTER: Silva PV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9484672 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature