Meta-analysis of Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae medicinal plants inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae are two families of plants grown as medicinal, aromatic, food and ornamental crops, and are of great commercial importance. The cultivation of these species depends on soil quality and availability of soil resources. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) usually penetrates plants through their roots, supplying plants with water and nutrients and receiving photosynthesis products in return. These types of symbiosis benefit the development and production of crops. To analyze the effects of AMF inoculation on the production of plants of these families, a meta - analysis was performed using 183 data of Lamiaceae plants and 68 data of Euphorbiaceae plants. Meta-analysis consists of compiling data from literature to obtain the response ratio, calculated by the mean of the experimental group divided by the mean of the control group. The response variables were shoot dry mass (SDM), total dry mass (TDM), plant height and accumulation of phosphorus in the plant shoot (P-shoot). Results showed an increased mean production of AMF-inoculated plants with a 96% and 97% increase of SDM in Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae, respectively. Increases of 91% in TDM and 248% in P accumulated in the plant shoot were observed for Lamiaceae; values that were higher than those of Euphorbiaceae at 110% and 675%, respectively. This meta-analysis confirmed the potential of AMF to increase biomass production and P accumulation in medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae and Euphorbiaceae families.