Characterisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community on black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in Northern

Abstract

Mycorrhiza was considered to enhance plant growth, especially in unfavourable environmental conditions. From 60 samples of rhizospheric soils and roots of black pepper (Piper nigrum) grown in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, and Gia Lai provinces, the presence of Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Glomite, Glomus, and Scutellospora genera were detected, of which Glomus and Acaulospora were dominants. After 40 days of inoculation, mycorrhiza multiplied 8.5 fold on corn (Zea mays) and 6.5 fold on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) or goosegrass (Eleusine indica). Black-pepper cuttings on substrate supplemented mycorrhiza showed better growth than the non-inoculated cuttings. Results suggest the potential of applying mycorrhizal fungi as biological agents in sustainable black pepper cultivation, adapting to climate change.