Inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and utilization of commercial substrates to papaya seedlings (Carica papaya L.) production

Abstract

Papaya (Carica papaya) cultivation is among the principal activities of the world orchard sector. Therefore, it becomes important to find ways of management that improve the development of the culture. This work aimed to study the growth and the development of papaya seedlings in different commercial substrates with inoculation (in seeds) of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomus fasciculatum, in three dosages: 0.0 g, 1.0 g, and 2.0 g for each 10.0 g of seeds. The seeds were placed in polystyrene trays with four different commercial substrates. The experiment was performed in factorial scheme in completely randomized design, with five replications. Thirty days after seedling, plant growth and development were analyzed. The commercial substrate containing superphosphate, potassium nitrate, turf, vermiculite and Pinus bark provided the highest growth of seedlings. The inoculation of seeds with 2.0 g of mycorrhizal fungi benefits the growth of seedlings.