Potential of indigenous AMF from organic cassava fields in Thailand for sustainable cassava cultivation

This study investigated the potential of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolated from organic cassava fields as a biofertilizer, assessing their effects on cassava growth both alone and in combination with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). AMF spores were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of organic cassava field soils in northeastern Thailand and grouped into two consortia based on spore size: A45 and A75. Molecular identification revealed that both consortia were dominated by the genera Claroideoglomus and Entrophospora, with Paraglomus additionally present in the A45 consortium. An outdoor pot experiment demonstrated that AMF inoculation significantly enhanced cassava growth compared to the uninoculated control, highlighting the potential of these locally adapted strains. Utilization of diverse AMF consortia showed better outcomes in cassava growth enhancement resulted from various abilities of AMF inside. However, the addition of the compatible PGPB strains (Pantoea dispersa and Serratia marcescens) did not further enhance plant growth. These findings emphasize the potential of locally adapted AMF consortia as effective biofertilizers for cassava and underscore the need for targeted evaluation of microbial interactions in sustainable agriculture.