Journal
MICROORGANISMS
Volume 9, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020410
Keywords
mycorrhizal fungi; mycelial network; weed traits; cereal cover crop; intercropping; organic melon; organic orange; electron scanning microscopy
Categories
Funding
- Office PQAI I Organic production of the Italian Ministry of agricultural food and forestry policies (Mipaaf), Project Studio delle interazioni rizosferiche e delle interferenze coltura-infestanti in sistemi orticoli biologici (RizoSem), (2013-2015) [11081]
- Office PQAI I Organic production of the Italian Ministry of agricultural food and forestry policies (Mipaaf), Project Strumenti per la risoluzione dell'emergenza fosfiti in uve e vini biologici (BIOFOSF-WINE) Mipaaf (2017-2020) [93131]
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The introduction of agroecological service crops, along with the use of cereals as cover crops or intercrops, can promote the selection of beneficial weed species that support arbuscular mycorrhiza, thus enhancing mycelial network development and significantly increasing mycorrhization levels, phosphorus uptake, yield, and quality traits.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis represents a valuable tool for increasing plant nutrient uptake, affecting system biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity. Introduction of agroecological service crops (ASCs) in cropping systems may determine changes in weed community, that can affect the development of the mycorrhizal mycelial network in the rhizosphere, favoring or depressing the cash crop mycorrhization. Two no-till Mediterranean organic horticultural systems were considered: one located in central Italy, where organic melon was transplanted on four winter-cereals mulches (rye, spelt, barley, wheat), one located in southern Italy (Sicily), where barley (as catch crop) was intercropped in an organic young orange orchard, with the no tilled, unweeded systems taken as controls. Weed Supporting Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (SAM) trait, weed density and biodiversity indexes, mycorrhization of coexistent plants in the field, the external mycelial network on roots were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, crop P uptake, yield and quality were evaluated. We verified that cereals, used as green mulches or intercropped, may drive the weed selection in favor of the SAM species, and promote the mycelial network, thus significantly increasing the mycorrhization, the P uptake, the yield and quality traits of the cash crop. This is a relevant economic factor when introducing sustainable cropping practices and assessing the overall functionality of the agroecosystem.
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