Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi potentiate the root system and the quality of goldenberry fruits

The lack of information on the horticultural performance of goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) is one of the factors that limits the expansion of the crop. Still, aiming to establish a sustainable management for this culture, inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be adopted. Therefore, the objective of the research was to investigate whether goldenberry plants in the absence and presence of inoculation with AMF differ in terms of horticultural performance. The four treatments studied were the absence (control) and the presence of three inoculants based on AMF (mycorrhizal community, Glomus intraradices and Rhizophagus clarus), arranged in a randomized block design, with five replications. Goldenberry plants produced in substrate enriched with AMF had a more voluminous root system and a greater amount of fine roots. Additionally, the fruits were sweeter and more flavorful when produced by plants inoculated with the mycorrhizal community and with R. clarus. It is concluded that mycorrhization has no effect on fruit production. However, goldenberry plants submitted to mycorrhizal biotechnology enhance the chemical quality of fruits and present a more profuse root system. G. intraradices is most effective in colonizing the roots of the plant host.