Effectiveness of native arbuscular mycorrhizal consortia on the growth of Agave inaequidens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight native consortia of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a commercial strain and a control without AMF on the growth of Agave inaequidens. Agave seedlings were inoculated and kept under greenhouse conditions for 300 days. At 90, 180 and 270 days after inoculation, the number of leaves and plant height were recorded; at the end of the experiment, fresh and dry weight, head (also known as heart or piña) diameter, leaf area and root length and volume were recorded. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization, the relative mycorrhizal dependency index and the Dickson index were also calculated. Results showed a growth-promoting effect on agave plants when inoculated with native consortia, namely Barranca de las nueces, El Limón, Agua Dulce and Huizachal, compared to the control. Colonization values were high (45%) and similar to those reported in other studies with agaves. Plants inoculated with the Huichazal consortium obtained the highest Dickson index (9.6). It can be concluded that native consortia are a feasible alternative for use as growth promoters in Agave inaequidens and that they can be a good option as biofertilizers under nursery conditions.