Influence of vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphorus on growth, carbohydrate partitioning and mineral nutrition of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants during establishment

The growth response of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to infection by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi and to 4, 12 and 20 mg L−1 of phosphorus (P) nutrition was characterized over 38 d of plant establishment. Although maximum growth rates were not reached with the P levels studied, foliar concentrations of P were consistent with those published for healthy cucumber plants. Plants were highly receptive to colonization by Glomus mosseae, G. dimorphicum and G. intraradices. Infection by all species decreased as P nutrition increased; however, growth rates of primary yield components (e.g., stem and leaf dry weights, leaf area) of VAM-infected plants were greater than those of noninfected plants at all levels of P nutrition. The VAM-enhanced growth was similar to that induced by increases in P nutrition. The VAM-infected plants had lower concentrations of soluble nitrogen (N) than noninfected plants early in development; however, N concentrations were equal by 38 d after planting. Total soluble carbohydrate concentration of leaves of noninfected plants increased 62% faster than that of leaves of VAM-infected plants, possibly due to decreased export and a higher degree of P stress in the non-infected plants. Relative to noninfected plants, higher concentration of soluble carbohydrates in roots of VAM-infected plants may indicate increased sink demand to support the symbiosis. Since VAM stimulated growth at levels of P nutrition considered nondeficient by tissue analysis, use of VAM to accelerate the early development of transplants may be advantageous to the greenhouse industry. Key words:Cucumis sativus L., phosphorus, vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, mineral nutrition