Alayafi Aisha A M, Alharbi Basmah M, Abdulmajeed Awatif M, Alnusaire Taghreed S, ALrashidi Ayshah Aysh, Al-Balawi Siham M, Khalaf Anazi Hanan, Alghanem Suliman M S, Al Zoubi Omar Mahmoud, Soliman Mona H
Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Jun 18;16:1598272. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1598272. eCollection 2025.
This study evaluated the effects of , an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, on nutrient uptake, biomass production, and oil quality in sunflower () and pumpkin () under both sole and intercropping field systems.
A factorial experimental design was conducted over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024), involving three cropping systems: sunflower monoculture, pumpkin monoculture, and additive sunflower-pumpkin intercropping. Each system was assessed with and without AM inoculation to determine the interactive effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis and cropping pattern.
AM inoculation significantly improved root colonization, especially in intercropped pumpkins, and enhanced key plant growth parameters, including chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf number, biomass, and reproductive traits. The highest performance was recorded in AM-treated intercropped systems for both crops. Seed weight increased notably under AM inoculation, reflecting improved reproductive development. Analysis of mineral nutrient content revealed substantial improvements in macro- and micronutrient uptake with AM symbiosis. Intercropped AM-treated plants showed enhanced levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron compared to their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Additionally, AM treatments led to a marked improvement in oil yield and quality. In particular, AM-inoculated sunflower and pumpkin seeds exhibited higher total oil content and a favorable shift in fatty acid composition, characterized by increased oleic acid and reduced linoleic acid concentrations.
These findings highlight the synergistic potential of integrating AM fungal inoculation with intercropping practices to enhance crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and oilseed quality. The results support the adoption of AM fungi as a sustainable biofertilizer strategy in modern agroecosystems.
本研究评估了丛枝菌根（AM）真菌对单作和间作田间系统下向日葵（Helianthus annuus）和南瓜（Cucurbita pepo）养分吸收、生物量生产及油品质的影响。
在两个生长季节（2023年和2024年）进行了析因试验设计，涉及三种种植系统：向日葵单作、南瓜单作以及附加型向日葵 - 南瓜间作。每个系统分别在接种和未接种AM真菌的情况下进行评估，以确定菌根共生和种植模式的交互作用。
接种AM真菌显著提高了根系定殖率，尤其是间作南瓜，还增强了关键的植物生长参数，包括叶绿素含量、株高、叶片数量、生物量和生殖性状。两种作物在接种AM真菌的间作系统中表现最佳。接种AM真菌后种子重量显著增加，反映出生殖发育得到改善。对矿质养分含量的分析表明，AM共生显著提高了大量和微量养分的吸收。与未接种菌根的植株相比，间作接种AM真菌的植株磷、钾、钙、锌和铁的含量更高。此外，AM处理显著提高了油产量和品质。特别是，接种AM真菌的向日葵和南瓜种子总油含量更高，脂肪酸组成发生有利变化，其特征是油酸含量增加，亚油酸含量降低。
这些发现突出了将AM真菌接种与间作实践相结合以提高作物生产力、养分利用效率和油籽品质的协同潜力。结果支持在现代农业生态系统中采用AM真菌作为一种可持续的生物肥料策略。
