Consortia of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from deciduous forests and silvopastoral systems: effects on the initial growth of four tropical forage species

Elizabeth de los Angeles Herrera-Parra, Armin Abelardo Luna-Mendicuti, Luis Enrique Castillo-Sánchez, Nery María Ruz-Febles, María José Campos-Navarrete, Jorge Rodolfo Canul Solis

Abstract


Background. Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) consortia establish mutualistic symbiotic associations with forage species and promote their growth. Objective. To evaluate the effect of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal consortia on the initial growth of tropical forage species. Methodology. To assess the effect of native AMF consortia on the initial growth of four tropical forage species under controlled conditions, a completely randomized factorial (3 × 4) experiment was established with two native AMF consortia from tropical deciduous forest (TDF) and a silvopastoral system (SSP), evaluated on four forage species: Mucuna pruriens, Guazuma ulmifolia, Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Moringa oleifera, plus a control group without AMF. Morphological variables were evaluated for 90 days, and the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization was determined. Main findings. AMF consortia significantly affected (p<0.05) leaf number and plant height, with the SSP consortium being superior in leaf production but inferior in height, compared to the control. E. cyclocarpum showed the best development in branch number (15.38), branch length (8.68 cm), and stem diameter (0.38 cm), while M. pruriens excelled in height (118.09 cm). Mycelial colonization was wide (33.00–100%), with M. oleifera and E. cyclocarpum being the most colonizable species. Implications. The consortium isolated from SSP showed greater compatibility and favored leaf production of tropical forage species. It is necessary to evaluate AMF consortia to understand their long-term effect on the productivity of tropical forage species. Conclusion. Native AMF consortia show potential to improve specific growth characteristics of tropical forage species, with differentiated responses depending on the host species and the origin of the consortium.

Keywords


mycorrhization; tropical forages; symbiosis; root colonization; silvopastoral systems

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v29i2.64379

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6437

Copyright (c) 2026 Elizabeth de los Angeles Herrera-Parra, Armin Abelardo Luna-Mendicuti, Jorge Rodolfo Canul Solis, Luis Erique Castillo-Sánchez, María José Campos-Navarrete, Nery María Ruz-Febles

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