GROWTH OF Coffea arabica L. CV CATIMOR BIOFERTILIZED WITH VARIOUS ENDOMICORHRIZAL FUNGI ISOLATES IN NURSERY

Abstract

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is a species of global economic importance and its production is based on the application of chemical inputs of synthetic origin. The increased preference for the consumption of organic coffee has used various alternatives for crop nutrition, such as endomycorrhizal fungi. The coffee tree has a high degree of mycotrophy; however, its effectiveness is differential when inducing growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of endomycorrhizal fungi of different geographical origin on the growth of Coffea arabica L. cv Catimor and on the phosphorus content in plant tissue. Seeds were germinated in trays and after two weeks they were biofertilized and transplanted to mollic Andosol soil in plastic bags with the isolates called Limón, Vainilla, Izapa, Caracoles and San Rafael, in addition to Rhizophagus intraradices as reference, and a control. A completely randomized design with five replications was used. Morphological (plant height and number of leaves) and physiological (dry biomass of root, stem, leaf blade and leaf area) traits were recorded at 28, 56, 84 and 112 days after transplantation, in addition to root colonization and P content in plant tissue at the end of the evaluation. Difference in dry matter induction were found, and all exceeded the control. Plant height increased more evenly with the isolates. Dry biomass increased from the first sampling in the stem and leaf blade variables and from the second one in the root. Values of morphological and physiological variables expressed differentially in relation to time, and growth induction was influenced by the isolates. Phosphorus content increased in all colonized plants compared to the control.