The Effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on the tomato seedling growth, yield and nutrient uptake under the greenhouse condition

This study was carried out to determine the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on the tomato seedling growth, yield and nutrient uptake under the greenhouse condition. In the preliminary experiments, the influence of mycorrhiza species and sterilisation have been examined. Glomus mossea species is used sterilised conditions as a mycorrhizal inoculant. The main experiment consisted of two stages. In the first stage, three types of transplants of 'Fantastic' tomato variety were used: I- noninoculated; II- preinoculated or seed inoculation, in which the inoculum was mixed into the germination medium; HI- inoculated or seedling inoculation, in which the inoculum was placed below the plant at transplanting. Inoculum concentration of AM-fungi was about 400 spores/plant for each seedling. Preinoculated and inoculated tomato seedling grew better than noninoculated tomato seedling approximately 8-10 weeks after sowing. Preinoculation and inoculation increased all physical growth parameters of tomato seedling in two years. Inoculation also affected phosphorus concentration of tomato seedlings. In the second stage of study, preinoculated, inoculated and noninoculated plants were transplanted methyl bromide fumigated (60 g m"2) soil in greenhouse. The factorial combination of inoculation time, inoculation and P application (0 and 120 kg ha*1) constituted twelve treatments which were randomised in each block. In the first year of the experiment, differences among the yield was statically significant However, differences among the nutrient uptake and yield of each inoculation time was not statically significant in the second year of the experiment. Early inoculated tomato grew better than noninoculated, however, the benefit of inoculation to growth and yield does not persist after certain time from transplanting to the greenhouse. Keywords: Mycorrhiza, Tomato, Plant Nutrient Uptake, Seedling Development.