Summary
This 2025 field study investigated the application of on-farm arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculants to strawberry plants grown in soilless systems, measuring impacts on productivity, root development, and phytochemical quality. The work addresses a practical gap in sustainable horticulture by exploring whether locally derived AMF consortia can enhance both agronomic and nutritional outcomes in substrate-based cultivation. The findings suggest potential value in integrating microbial management into intensive horticultural systems to improve plant performance and potentially crop composition.
Regional applicability
This research was conducted in Brazil and addresses soilless strawberry cultivation, a production method common in temperate and subtropical regions including the United Kingdom. Transferability to UK conditions would depend on climate adaptation of the specific AMF strains tested and the substrate type used; however, the principle of AMF inoculation in controlled-environment strawberry production is relevant to UK horticulture policy and practice on sustainable intensification.
Key measures
Strawberry yield; root morphology (surface area, length, diameter); phytochemical composition (phenolic compounds, antioxidants, or related biomarkers); possibly AMF colonisation rates
Outcomes reported
The study examined how on-farm arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculants influenced strawberry yield, root morphology, and phytochemical profiles in soilless cultivation systems. Metrics likely included fruit yield, root architecture parameters, and levels of bioactive compounds in fruit.
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