Morpho-horticultural performance of strawberry cultivated on substrate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar

•The main effect during the production cycle of strawberry is provided by AMF.•AMF potentiates the phytochemical quality of the fruits.•Biochar improves mycorrhizal colonization and the root biomass of strawberry.•Strawberry grown with C. etunicatum and 9% of biochar has a more profuse root system. The interactive effect of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) during the strawberry production cycle is poorly understood. Thus, we investigated whether the association between AMF and biochar changes the morpho-horticultural performance of strawberry cultivated on substrate during its production cycle. We studied two biochar proportions (0% and 9% of the container volume) and four AMF inoculants (without inoculation, Cetraspora pellucida, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and mycorrhizal community), totaling eight treatments, in a bifactorial scheme. The research was carried out in random blocks, with four replications. The use of AMF improved the phytometric morphology of the plants and enhanced the phytochemical quality of the fruits. C. pellucida stood out for benefiting the aerial part and root biomass of plants. The use of biochar in strawberry cultivation improved mycorrhizal colonization and root biomass. Plants grown with 9% of biochar and inoculated with C. etunicatum showed more profuse root system. In conclusion, the addition of AMF and biochar to the cultivation substrate benefits the performance of the plants, with emphasis on the root system and the phytochemical quality of strawberries.