The influence of Arbascular mycorrhizal on the reproduction of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Control experiment was conducted in the nursery of Botany and Microbiology Department, University of Ibadan to evaluate the influence of arbuscular-mycorrhizae (AM) fungi on the improvement of reproductive and productive potentials of bell pepper in sub-humid tropics. The experiment was a 2x4 factorial, arranged in complete randomized design with six replications. G. mosseae, G. etunicatum and dual inoculation of the two AM fungi were used to inoculate the pepper plants. Non-mycorrhizal inoculation served as control experiment. Glomus etunicatum significantly improved the biomass production in bell pepper and its fruiting potentials (66 and 100% respectively). G. etunicatum and dual inoculation also reduced the number of the abscised flowers and fruits. The plants inoculated with. G. etunicatum and dual inoculation maintained at least 75% of their fruits to maturity, while those inoculated with G. mosseae and control plants lost 100% of their fruits before maturity. The pepper was found to respond differently to the two Glomus spp. Dual inoculation of the plant with both AM fungi did not improve its fruiting potentials above the single inoculation with G. etunicatum (0.67 and 5.17 fruits respectively). Keywords : abortion, bell pepper, dual inoculation, flowering, fruiting, G. etunicatum, G. mosseae Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science Vol. 9 2005: 12-16