Aspergillus niger as a Biological Input for Improving Vegetable Seedling Production

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Vegetable seedling production often faces challenges impacting yield.
• Biological solutions are sought to improve plant growth and resilience.
• Aspergillus niger is a fungus with known plant growth-promoting capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Aspergillus niger as a bio-input for enhancing vegetable seedling growth.
• To determine the efficacy of different inoculation methods and doses of Aspergillus niger.
• To assess the impact of Aspergillus niger on various growth parameters across multiple vegetable species.

Main Methods:

• Greenhouse experiments were conducted on seven vegetable species.
• Factorial design included two conidia doses (10^2 and 10^6 per plant) and two inoculation methods (seed treatment, in-furrow granular).
• Evaluated parameters included shoot length, stem diameter, root volume, biomass, and total dry mass.

Main Results:

• Aspergillus niger inoculation consistently improved growth compared to uninoculated controls across all tested vegetables.
• Significant increases in shoot fresh mass were observed, with notable gains in scarlet eggplant (101%) and pepper (92%).
• Root growth was also enhanced in several species, including lettuce, pepper, scarlet eggplant, watermelon, and tomato.

Conclusions:

• Aspergillus niger effectively promotes the growth of a wide range of vegetable seedlings.
• The fungus demonstrates potential as a valuable bio-input for sustainable vegetable production.
• Further research could optimize application strategies for commercial seedling production.