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

Optimizing mycorrhizal fungi application for improved nutrient uptake, growth, and disease resistance in cardamom seedlings (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton)

Sarathambal Chinnathambi; Mohammed Faisal Peeran; Veeraraghavan Srinivasan; Sivasankaran Mukesh Sankar; Priya George

Heliyon · 2024

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Summary

This study investigated the optimisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation protocols for cardamom seedlings, a high-value spice crop. The research measured effects on nutrient acquisition, morphological development, and disease suppression, suggesting that targeted mycorrhizal application may enhance seedling quality and early establishment vigour. The findings contribute to understanding how fungal symbioses can improve horticultural productivity in tropical spice production systems.

UK applicability

Direct applicability to UK outdoor cardamom production is negligible, as the crop is tropical and not commercially grown in the UK. However, the mycorrhizal inoculation methodology and mechanisms of nutrient enhancement and disease resistance may be transferable to other horticultural crops grown in UK nurseries or protected systems.

Key measures

Mycorrhizal colonisation percentage; nutrient uptake (N, P, K); seedling height, stem diameter, and shoot/root biomass; disease incidence or severity; possibly soil microbial abundance

Outcomes reported

The study evaluated the effects of mycorrhizal fungi application on nutrient uptake, seedling growth parameters, and disease resistance in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) under controlled nursery conditions. Key measurements likely included mycorrhizal colonisation rates, nutrient concentrations, biomass accumulation, and incidence or severity of fungal diseases.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil biology and microbial inoculants in horticultural crop production
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
India
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39227
Catalogue ID
NRmo9zxr64-00t

Topic tags

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