Applied Microbiology: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2471-9315
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2471-9315
+44 1300 500008
Todeschini V, AitLahmidi N, Mazzucco E, Marsano F, Gosetti F, Robotti E, Bona E, Massa N, Bonneau L, Marengo E, Wipf D., Berta G and Lingua G
University of Piemonte Orientale, Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, 13100 - Vercelli, Italy
University of Piemonte Orientale, Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, 15121 - Alessandria, Italy
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Appli Microbiol Open Access
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) are soil beneficial microorganisms
strictly associated with plant roots, able to improve plant growth. The interaction between plants and AMF and/or PGPB
can also affect plant metabolism, increasing photosynthetic rate and the production of the so-called healthy compounds. In this
study, three different AMF (Funneliformis mosseae, Septoglomus viscosum, Rhizophagus irregularis) were used in combination
with three different strains of PGPB (19Fv1t, 5vm1K, Pf4) to inoculate plantlets of Fragaria x ananassa Duch var. Eliana F1
in order to investigate the effects of different AMF/PGPB combinations both on plant growth and fruit quality. The plants,
grown in a greenhouse for 4 months, were irrigated with nutrient solution at two different level of phosphate: half of the
control uninoculated plants (C) was fed with 32?¼M phosphate, while the remaining controls (C-P) and all the inoculated
ones were fed with 16?¼M phosphate. The number of newly produced flowers and fruits was recorded weekly. Mature fruits
were harvested, weighted, measured and used for biochemical analyses. At harvest, fresh and dry weights of roots and shoots,
mycorrhizal colonization (M%) and content of leaf photosynthetic pigments were measured. Moreover, the following fruit
parameters were recorded: pH, titratable acids, concentration of organic acids, sugars, vitamin C and anthocyanidins. Volatile
profile and elemental composition in fruits were also evaluated. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way and two-way
ANOVA. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) and PCA-DA (discriminant analysis) were used to draw a general
profile of strawberry plants through the different considered variables. AMF/PGPB combinations differently affected plant
growth parameters, increasing root and shoot biomass and the concentration of photosynthetic pigments. Plants inoculated
with R. irregularis showed the highest M% (20-30%). Co-inoculation also improved plant growth, fruit yield and quality: plants
inoculated with Pf4, regardless of its combination with the used fungus, showed a higher number of flowers and fruits produced
per plant, an increase of malic acid concentration and a decrease of pH in the fruits, if compared to the other treatments. The
PCA-DA analysis reveal that the presence of a specific fungus and/or bacterium in the soil determined the production of
specific compounds in fruits: volatile profile and elemental composition observed for each treatment were different from the
other ones, underlining the uniqueness of strawberry flavour, aroma and odor of each treatment. In general, the factor â??fungusâ?
mostly affected the parameters associated with the vegetative portion of the plant, while the factor â??bacteriumâ? was more
relevant for fruit yield and quality.
Recent Publications:
1. Bona E*, Todeschini V*, Cantamessa S, Cesaro P, Copetta A, Lingua G, Gamalero E, Berta G, Massa N (2018).
Combined bacterial and mycorrhizal inocula improve tomato quality at reduced fertilization. Scientia Horticulturae
234: 160-165.
2. Bona E, Lingua G, Todeschini V. (2016) Effect of bioinoculants on the quality of crops. In: Bioformulations: For
Sustainable Agriculture Eds. Arora NK, Balestrini R, Mehnaz S. pp. 93-124.
3. Bona E, Lingua G, Manassero P, Cantamessa S, Marsano F, Todeschini V, Copetta A, Dâ??Agostino G, Massa N, Avidano
L, Gamalero E, Berta G (2015). AM fungi and PGP pseudomonads increase flowering, fruit production, and vitamin
content in strawberry grown at low nitrogen and phosphorus levels. Mycorrhiza 25: 181-193.
Valeria Todeschini is a researcher in Botany since November 2016. She obtained her graduation in Biology at the University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO) in July 2003, achieving in the same year the qualification to the profession of biologist. In 2007 she received her PhD in “Scienze Ambientali, Acque Interne e Agroecosistemi” from the same University. After discussing her PhD thesis, she continued her research relying on post-doctoral fixed-term positions. She regularly serves as a reviewer for various international scientific journals; from May 2015 she is a member of the “Plant Physiology and Biochemistry” editorial board. At present she is in charge with the teaching of the Plant Biotechnology course. Her studies are focused on plant-microbe interaction. In particular, she worked on phytoremediation of soils polluted by heavy metals, relying on poplar plants inoculated or not with soil beneficial microorganisms (PGPB and AMF). The effects both of pollutants and inoculation have been investigated at different levels: whole plants, cellular and molecular. Since 2013 her research line concerned also the qualitative improvement of crop and medicinal plants using bioinoculants. In particular, growth parameters, photosynthetic activity, fruit yield and quality of crop and medicinal plants were assessed in response to different AMF and PGPB inoculation at different levels of fertilization. Her studies have been carried out with researchers from various Italian and foreign Universities. The above described activities have been disseminated in the national and international scientific communities attending conferences, submitting communications, publishing papers (17) and book chapters (1)..
E-mail: valeria.todeschini@uniupo.it