Scholarly record
COMPENSATING FOR MOISTURE DEFICIT IN BLUEBERRY (VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM) USING ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA UNDER CENTRAL EUROPEAN CONDITIONS.
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhiza, a widespread mutualistic association between fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and plant roots, plays an important role in improving plant nutrition and tolerance to environmental stress. Through this symbiosis, fungi supply mineral nutrients and enhance resistance to drought and pathogens, while receiving assimilates from the host plant. This study was conducted on a commercial plantation of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) in southwestern Slovakia. The plantation was inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (Symbivit) in 2024, with irrigation and fertilization applied via drip irrigation. Ten plants from each cultivar (Chandler, Bluecrop, and Spartan) were selected and left without irrigation. The aim of the study was to compare irrigated and non-irrigated treatments in terms of quantitative (fruit size, weight, yield) and qualitative parameters (sugars, acids, dry matter, pH). It is assumed that mycorrhiza partially mitigates drought stress, reducing differences between treatments. Confirmation of this hypothesis could provide valuable insights for blueberry production under changing climatic conditions.
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References12
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