Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth, nutrient uptake and survival of micropropagated agave (Agave marmorata Roezl) plantlets during acclimatization

Moreno-Hernández María del Rosario; López-Buenfil José Abel; Serrano-Fuentes María Karen; Contreras-Oliva Adriana; Bello-Bello Jericó Jabín

Journal of Arid Environments · 2025

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This study investigates the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in supporting the acclimatization of tissue-culture-derived Agave marmorata plantlets, a species of arid-zone economic and ecological importance. The findings suggest that AMF inoculation can enhance nutrient uptake — particularly phosphorus — and improve survival and morphological development during the critical transition from in vitro to ex vitro conditions. The research contributes to optimising micropropagation protocols for agave, which is relevant to both commercial production and conservation of arid-land species.

UK applicability

This study is directly applicable to UK conditions only in a limited sense, as Agave marmorata is not a UK crop; however, the underpinning findings on AMF-assisted acclimatization of micropropagated plantlets are broadly relevant to UK protected horticulture and nursery propagation systems where mycorrhizal inoculants are increasingly considered as biostimulants.

Key measures

Plant survival rate (%); shoot height (cm); root length (cm); leaf number; nutrient concentration (N, P, K; mg/kg or %); mycorrhizal colonisation rate (%)

Outcomes reported

The study measured the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on growth parameters, nutrient uptake, and survival rates of micropropagated Agave marmorata plantlets during the acclimatization phase. It likely reports improvements in shoot and root development, phosphorus and nitrogen acquisition, and overall plantlet establishment compared to non-inoculated controls.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil biology & microbiology
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Mexico
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105330
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-01a

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.