Effect of co-inoculation of efficient microorganisms - AMF on tomato crop yield

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is the most widely distributed vegetable in the world. In Cuba, it is one of the most productive and can be cultivated in all provinces of the country, its demand increases continuously and with it its cultivation, production and trade. However, an inadequate phytotechnical management of the crop imposes the search for alternatives that contribute to increase its development and yield. The present work was developed with the aim of evaluating the effect of efficient microorganisms (EM)-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) co-inoculation on tomato crop. The experiment was developed in the experimental areas of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (INCA) located in San Jose de las Lajas municipality, Mayabeque province, Cuba. The EM interaction with the certified mycorrhizal inoculant of INCAM-4 strain, Glomus cubense species, was evaluated, where four treatments were studied under a randomized block design with four replications. Co-inoculation of AMF and EM stimulated seedling growth at the seedling stage by 18-32 %, compared to the control. Nutritional status of plants was superior, as well as the increase of the fungal variables evaluated in each of phenological stages of the crop. The agricultural yield of the crop doubled due to a higher number of flowers, fruits per plant and percentage of fructification, demonstrating the positive interaction between both bioproducts. Key words: vegetable, microorganisms, mycorrhiza, yield