Scientia Horticulturae 128 (2011) 255–260

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Scientia Horticulturae
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/scihorti

Effect of Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora colombiana on plant growth,

production, and fruit quality of ‘Maradol’ papaya (Carica papaya L.)
Marcos V. Vázquez-Hernández a,∗ , Lourdes Arévalo-Galarza a , David Jaen-Contreras a ,
José L. Escamilla-García b , Antonio Mora-Aguilera a , Elías Hernández-Castro c , Juan Cibrián-Tovar a ,
Daniel Téliz-Ortiz a
a
Colegio de Postgraduados, Km. 36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, CP 56230, Mexico
b
Escuela de Ciencias Agropecuarias de la Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mariano Jiménez s/n colonia el Varillero, Apatzingán, CP 60660, Michoacán, Mexico
c
Maestría en Sistemas de Producción Agropecuaria de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero México, Km. 273.5 Carretera México-Acapulco, Chilpancingo,
CP 39090, Guerrero, Mexico

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The effect of inoculating ‘Maradol’ papaya plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus mosseae
Received 21 July 2010 (GM) and Entrophospora colombiana (EC) was assessed. The results showed that both mycorrhizae species
Received in revised form 8 January 2011 increased the number of fruits and yield in papaya plants by 41.9 and 105.2% for GM and 22.1 and
Accepted 26 January 2011
44.1% for EC, respectively, with respect to control plants. GM significantly increased plant height. Sugar
content, firmness, color (◦ Hue), and ripening process of mycorrhized plant fruits were similar to those
Keywords:
of the control. Weight loss of mycorrhized plant fruits was considerably less than that of the control.
Carica papaya
Inoculation of papaya with AMF is recommended, particularly with GM since it increases yield, and fruit
Mycorrhizae
Production
weight (45.1%), furthermore, it reduced fruit weight loss during ripening.
Postharvest quality © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Mexico is the second producer and the first exporter of papaya
(Carica papaya L.) worldwide, with an estimated production of
919,425 tons and export value of 55 million US dollars in 2007
(FAO, 2010). In the last years, production costs have been increased
because of the indiscriminate use of mineral fertilizers required
by the plant for its growth and continuous production (Nakasone
and Paull, 1998), which provoked the search of alternatives to
diminish costs. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
as biofertilizers increases the yield in crops like pomegranate
(Punicagranatum L.) (Aseri et al., 2008), tomato (Lycopersiconescu-
lentum Mill) (Makus, 2004), watermelon (CitrulluslanatusThunb.)
(Kaya et al., 2003), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) (Jaen
et al., 1997). According to the aforesaid, the use of mycorrhizae in
papaya production is an alternative to reduce production costs and
increase productivity. AMF are key components of the rhizosphere
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +52 5959520233; fax: +52 5959520233.
E-mail addresses: marcos vh@colpos.mx, marcos vh@hotmail.com
(M.V. Vázquez-Hernández), larevalo@colpos.mx (L. Arévalo-Galarza),
djaen@colpos.mx (D. Jaen-Contreras), jlescamillag@hotmail.com
(J.L. Escamilla-García), aguilera@colpos.mx (A. Mora-Aguilera),
ehernandezcastro@yahoo.com.mx (E. Hernández-Castro), jcibrian@colpos.mx
(J. Cibrián-Tovar), dteliz@colpos.mx (D. Téliz-Ortiz).
since they form a mutualistic association with the roots of 90% of
the terrestrial plants (Smith and Read, 1997). They improve root-
ing and establishment of the crop (Alarcón and Ferrera-Cerrato,
1999), increase the absorption of mineral nutrients (especially of
ions of limited mobility, such as P, Cu, and Zn) (Bethlenfalvay
et al., 1988; Marschner and Dell, 1994), favor nutrient renovation
(Leake et al., 2004), and promote tolerance to biotic and abiotic
stress (Barea and Jeffries, 1995), mainly against the attack of some
pathogens of radical habits (bacteria, nematodes, fungi, etc.) (Pozo
and Azcón-Aguilar, 2007; Borowicz, 2001); they improve soil struc-
ture (Azcón-Aguilar and Barea, 1997), bring about greater vegetal
diversity (Leake et al., 2004), and are sources of hormones such
as abscisic acid, gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins (Strack et al.,
2003; Hirsch et al., 1997; Jaen et al., 1997). Based on the afore-
mentioned, AMF favor plant growth and increase production (Aseri
et al., 2008), however, the effects of AMF are variable, depend-
ing on the host plant and on the edaphic-environmental factors
(Mueller et al., 2009). Inoculation with Glomus fasciculatum in
chile ancho plants (Capsicum annum L. cv San Luis) resulted in an
increase of fruit size in 25%, but with lesser color (chroma) devel-
opment (Mena-Violante et al., 2006). The inoculation with Glomus
mosseae increased fruit size (12%) of tomato (Lycopersiconesculen-
tum ‘Counter’) compared to the control (Mueller et al., 2009). Trials
carried out with mycorrhizae in previous years have confirmed
their beneficial effects on papaya production. Nevertheless, the

0304-4238/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2011.01.031
256 M.V. Vázquez-Hernández et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 128 (2011) 255–260
Table 1
Soil characteristics of the experimental orchard where papaya plants inoculated
with Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora colombiana were grown.
Soil characteristics Units
pH
CE dS m−1
OM % 2.23
N %
P mg kg−1
K cmol(+) kg−1
Ca cmol(+) kg−1
Mg cmol(+) kg−1
Mn mg kg−1
Cu mg kg−1
Zn mg kg−1
Fe mg kg−1
B mg kg−1
Sand % 17.20
Loam % 50.25
Clay % 37.52
effect of mycorrhizae on papaya quality is not known yet; therefore,
the aim of the present research was to assess the effect of G. mosseae
and Entrophospora colombiana on plant development, production,
and quality of ‘Maradol’ papaya fruits.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Soil analysis and treatment
The experimental plantation was located in Huamuxtitlán, Gro.,
Mexico, (17◦ 41 –17◦ 54 N and 98◦ 26 –98◦ 40 W) at 890 m altitude.
The climate is warm dry with 25.9 ◦ C mean temperature and
803.3 mm of annual mean precipitation (SMN-CONAGUA, 2009).
Before sowing, three composite soil samples each one from 10
random locations of the first 40 cm were taken for nutrient anal-
ysis. The soil was air-dried and sieved through a 5 mm mesh
net. The soil samples were analyzed in order to determine pH
(1:2 H2 O), electrical conductivity (CE) (1:5 H2 O) and content
of organic matter (OM) (Jackson, 1964); N content was deter-
mined by Kjeldahl method (Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982). The
P content was estimated by extraction with NaHCO3 by Olsen
method (Olsen and Dean, 1965). K, Ca, and Mg were extracted
with ammonium acetate (CH3 COONH4 ) (1 N pH 7) (Chapman,
1965) and determined by spectrophotometry of atomic absorption.
The content of micronutrients was quantified in the extract with
diethylene-triamino-penta acetic acid (DTPA) by atomic absorp-
tion spectrophotometry. Organic matter content was verified by
quick oxidation (Jackson, 1964). Finally, the soil texture was ana-
lyzed using the hydrometric method (Bouyoucos, 1936). The soil
of the experimental plot is slightly acid with mean content of P,
K, Ca, and organic matter, moderately rich in N and low in Mg
(Benton et al., 1991). Contents of Fe, Mn, and Cu were adequate,
whereas that of Zn was marginal (Reuter and Robinson, 1986) and
of clay–loam texture (Table 1). Finishing harvest, the content of N,
P, and K were determined taking the soil from different locations
randomly chosen to get 6 replicates per treatment.
Thirty days before establishing the experiment, the soil was
fumigated with Metham-Sodio (BUNEMA® 55 GE; 560 L ha−1 ). The
application of the compound was by irrigation system, where it was
carried through the soil by the water front according to the prod-
uct specifications. After the treatment the soil was left airing, and
subsequently, the land was prepared for transplant.
2.2. Inoculum production
G. mosseae and E. colombiana stocks were used; their identifi-
cation was made based on the description of the groups of spore
walls (Schenck and Pérez, 1990). The inoculant was produced by
means of the host plant method (Sieverding, 1983). Pre-germinated
onion seeds (Allium cepa L.) in sterile substrate were utilized.
Value After 6 months, harvesting was done and mycorrhizal colonization
6.30 (Phillips and Hayman, 1970) and spore density in 100 g of dry soil
1.20 were verified (Gerdemann and Nicolson, 1963).
0.14
2.3. Plant treatment and cultivation
10.00
2.10
10.20
Papaya ‘Maradol’ seeds were soaked in clean water for 24 h
1.00 with three changes of water every 8 h. The seeds were treated by
1.21 immersion in benomyl solution (1 g L−1 , 8 h) and two rinses with
0.30 sterile water. The treated seeds were placed on sterile towels to
0.93
germinate and irrigated with manual atomizer every 2 h. When
0.41
0.53 the radicle had emerged, they were sown on germination trays
(60 cm × 40 cm) with autoclave sterilized sand (120 ◦ C, 3 h−1 ). Six
centimeter-high seedlings were pre-transplanted in bags with 1 kg
growth substrate (soil: river sand, 2:1, sterilized in autoclave sand:
120 ◦ C, 3 h−1 ) containing 100 g of inoculum of G. mosseae or E.
colombiana (7300 spores kg−1 ). Transplanting was carried out when
the plants reached a height of 20 cm and/or 7 true fully expanded
leaves and stem diameter of 1 cm. The treatments were: Control,
G. mosseae (GM), and E. colombiana (EC) with plantation density
of 2857 plants ha−1 at a distance of 2.5 m between rows and 1.4 m
among plants. In all the treatments the employed fertilization was
235–42–222 kg ha−1 N–P–K, distributed in transplant (117–21–0),
flowering (59–21–157), and fruiting (59–0–65). At 30, 120, and
210 days after transplant, readings of plant height were taken with
a flexometer (from stem base to the apical bud) and of stem diam-
eter with a digital vernier (Caldi-6MP, Truper, USA) at 10 cm from
the base. Height of the first fruit was measured from the stem base.
Number of fruits per plant was determined, and yield was esti-
mated, based on the mean weight of fruits. Two hundred and forty
plants per treatment were used and 40 plants as experimental unit
with 6 replications.
2.4. Mycorrhizal colonization and spore density
Samples of six papaya plant roots per treatment and their
soil were collected at the end of experiment. They were washed
with running water, cleared with KOH (10%), stained with trypan
blue (0.05%), and cut each ones into 10 segments of 1 cm con-
sidered as a replicate (Rufykiri et al., 2000). The segments were
placed (at random) in parallel on a microscope slide in order to
determine mycorrhizal infection (hyphae, vesicles, and arbuscu-
lar mycorrhizae) at 45×. Three visual fields in each root segment
were examined to observe colonization by GM, EC, and native myc-
orrhizae. Colonization percentage was calculated as the ratio of
the infected root sections by the observed sections per 100. The
extraction and spore density were done by the method described
by Gerdemann and Nicolson (1963). Pearson’s correlation analysis
was done for each treatment (N = 6) and for all samples (N = 18) to
determine the relationships between mycorrhizal colonization and
spore density.
2.5. Mineral content in fruits
At harvest, 10 fruits per treatment were used to evaluate the
mineral content. Total N was determined by Microkjeldahl method
(Chapman and Pratt, 1973). P was evaluated by colorimetry in
Spectro-photocolorimeter (20D, Milton Roy Co., USA). K, Ca, Mg,
Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe elements were analyzed by atomic absorption
spectrophotometer (IL 551, Instrumentation Laboratories, Spain)
(Chapman and Pratt, 1973). Six replications per treatment were
used to determine Pearson’s correlation (N = 18) between N content
and fruit weight, and N content and fruit firmness.
 M.V. Vázquez-Hernández et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 128 (2011) 255–260 257

Table 2
Plant height, stem diameter, and height of the first fruit of papaya plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora colombiana at 30, 120, and 210 days after
transplant.

Treatment Plant height (cm) Stem diameter (cm) Height of the

first fruit (cm)

Days after transplant Days after transplant

30 120 210 30 120 210

Control 29.2 b 86.0 b 174.9 b 1.1 b 6.5 b 10.6 a 37.5 a

G. mosseae 32.5 a 88.9 a 180.3 a 1.3 a 6.9 a 10.8 a 36.9 a
E. colombiana 31.3 a 87.2 ab 174.9 b 1.3 a 6.6 b 10.6 a 37.2 a

Different letters in columns are significantly different. Tukey (P < 0.05).

2.6. Postharvest evaluation 3.3. Soil and mycorrhizal colonization analysis

Fruits were harvested at physiological maturity (40% of color
development). They were washed and treated with sodium
hypochlorite solution (200 ␮L L−1 ), submerged in Prochloraz
(500 ␮L L−1 , 2 min). The assessed variables were: content of total
sugars (%), firmness (Newtons, N), pulp and epidermis color (◦ Hue),
and weight loss (%) during fruit ripening at 20 ± 1 ◦ C. Evalua-
tions were carried out on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 after harvest.
The content of total sugars was determined by antrona method
(Witham et al., 1971). Fruit firmness was measured using a
texturometer (FDV-30, Wagner Instrument, USA) with a 10 mm
cutting pointer at 4 points of the fruit, previously eliminating
epidermis in the evaluation zones. For defining color of epi-
dermis and fruit pulp a colorimeter (Hunter Lab D-25a, USA)
was utilized, obtaining values L, a and b, for tonality calculation
(◦ H = tan−1 b/a). Weight loss with respect to the initial weight
was assessed with a digital balance (EY-2200-A, Alsep, Japan).
Each fruit was considered as experimental unit with 6 replica-
tions.
2.7. Statistical analysis
The results were analyzed in a completely randomized exper-
imental design. Normality of the obtained results was verified
with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. An analysis of variance and
separation of means was conducted according to Tukey’s honest
significant difference (HSD) with a 0.05 probability level by means
of the statistical program SAS® , version 9.1.3 (2005).
3. Results
3.1. Plant growth
Inoculation with G. mosseae significantly increased plant height
with respect to the control by 11.3, 3.4, and 3.1% at 30, 120, and
210 days after transplant; stem diameter increased as well by 18.2%
and 6.2% respectively, at 30 and 120 days (Table 2). Inoculation
with E. colombiana only increased significantly plant height (7.2%)
and stem diameter (18.2%) compared to the control at 30 days after
transplant. G. mosseae showed greater effect on plant height than
E. colombiana at 210 days after transplant, and on stem diameter at
120 days after transplant; none of the treatments affected height of
the first fruit.
3.2. Yield
Inoculation with G. mosseae increased the number of fruits per
plant by 41.9%, fruit weight by 45.1% and yield by 105.2% with
respect to the control (Table 3). Inoculation with E. colombiana
raised the number of fruits per plant by 22.1%, fruit weight by 18.4%
and yield by 44.1%.
Soil analysis before and after harvest indicated that N content
diminished by 42.8, 28.6, and 42.8% in the soil of the control, G.
mosseae, and E. colombiana, respectively. Likewise, P level dimin-
ished in the soil of control and E. colombiana by 8.0 and 1.0%
with respect to the initial value; whereas it increased by 9.0% in
soil of plants inoculated with G. mosseae. K was reduced by 23.8,
15.2, and 19.5% in the soil of control, G. mosseae, and E. colom-
biana, respectively. Low colonization was found in control plants
(Table 4). Mycorrhizal colonization and spore density were higher
in plants inoculated with G. mosseae than E. colombiana (Table 4).
There is high correlation between colonization of inoculated plants
and spore density in soil (R2 = 0.98, P < 0.0001). The lowest cor-
relation per treatment was for E. colombiana (R2 = 0.44, P = 0.37)
compared to G. mosseae (R2 = 0.82, P = 0.043) and control (R2 = 0.76,
P = 0.0756).
3.4. Mineral content in fruits
Inoculation with G. mosseae significantly raised N and Fe con-
tents in fruits by 150 and 21.1% compared to the control. E.
colombiana increased Ca and Fe content by 75.0 and 20.5%, respec-
tively; on the contrary, Zn level was reduced by 36.2% with respect
to the control. P, K, Mg, Mn, and Cu contents were not affected
by the treatments. Content of N and Zn was higher in fruits of
plants inoculated with G. mosseae than in those with E. colombiana
(Table 5).
3.5. Postharvest evaluation
After 11 days weight loss was lower in papaya fruits from plants
inoculated with G. mosseae (22.9%) and E. colombiana (24.1%) com-
pared to the control (Fig. 1D). Content of total sugars and color
(◦ Hue) in epidermis and pulp were not affected by the treatments
(Fig. 1A and C). Fruit firmness of plants with G. mosseae remained
inferior to the control and E. colombiana during 7 days after harvest,
but at the end of the evaluation there were no differences among
treatments (Fig. 1B) Positive correlation between N content in fruits
and fruit weight (R2 = 0.73, P = 0.0007) and an inverse correlation
between N content and fruit firmness (R2 = −0.84, P = 0.0006) were
found.
Table 3
Yield, fruit weight, and fruits per papaya plant inoculated with Glomus mosseae and
Entrophospora colombiana.
Treatment Yield Fruit Fruits per
(ton ha−1 ) weight (g) plant
Control 70.6 c 1432.6 c 17.2 c
G. mosseae 144.9 a 2078.0 a 24.4 a
E. colombiana 101.7 b 1695.5 b 21.0 b
Different letters in columns are significantly different. Tukey (P < 0.05).
258 M.V. Vázquez-Hernández et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 128 (2011) 255–260

Table 4
N P, and K content, mycorrhizal colonization, and spore density of the soil at finishing the experiment of papaya plant inoculation with Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora
colombiana.

Treatment Macronutrient content Mycorrhizal Spore density

colonization (%) 100 g−1 soil

N (g 100 g−1 ) P (mg kg−1 ) K (cmol(+) kg−1 )

Control 0.08 b 9.2 c 1.60 c 16.5 c 470.0 c

G. mosseae 0.10 a 10.9 a 1.78 a 91.5 a 2536.5 a
E. colombiana 0.08 b 9.9 b 1.69 b 58.2 b 2030.0 b

Different letters in columns are significantly different. Tukey (P < 0.05).

Table 5
Nutrient content of papaya plant fruits inoculated with Glomus mosseae and Entrophospora colombiana.

Treatment g 100 g−1 mg kg−1

N P K Ca Mg Mn Cu Zn Fe

Control 0.4 b 0.34 a 2.9 a 0.4 b 0.14 a 5.5 a 2.8 a 5.8 a 74.5 b
G. mosseae 1.0 a 0.39 a 3.2 a 0.5 ab 0.22 a 6.7 a 3.4 a 6.5 a 90.2 a
E. colombiana 0.6 b 0.38 a 2.9 a 0.7 a 0.18 a 5.0 a 3.2 a 3.7 b 89.8 a

Different letters in columns are significantly different. Tukey (P < 0.05).

4. Discussion
Papaya plant development has been favored by inoculation with
G. mosseae and to a lesser extent with E. colombiana. The positive
influence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth, fruit
weight, and yield is related to the high percentage of colonization
and mycorrhizal spore density in soil, which increase water supply
and plant nutrients (Goussous and Mohammad, 2009; Kothamasi
et al., 2001). Higher correlation of colonization and spore density
could indicate a possible reinoculation and major adaptability of G.
mosseae to climate and soil conditions in the study zone than that
of E. colombiana, showing better efficiency in acid soils (Sieverding,
1991). There is high correlation between infectious capacity of
native mycorrhizae and higher plant growth (Klironomos, 2003),
likewise, direct correlation has been observed between N content
in onion bulbs and high colonization of the same plant species
(Goussous and Mohammad, 2009). In this study, high concentra-
tion of N, Ca and Fe in fruits corresponds to high colonization in
papaya plants, attributed to major uptake of plant nutrients due to
more soil exploration. There is plenty of evidence that AMF enhance
symbiotic N fixation, AMF have also shown effect on N uptake
and transport from soil via mycorrhizal hyphae (Bethlenfalvay and
Schüepp, 1994) as well as mycorrhizae increasing N availability
through mineralization of organic substances (Atul-Nayyar et al.,
2009; Goussous and Mohammad, 2009). P content increment in
the soil of plants inoculated with G. mosseae indicates the capacity
of mycorrhizae of solubilizing P, normally not available (Goussous
and Mohammad, 2009).
Plants inoculated with G. mosseae and E. colombiana had high
percentage of colonization and sporulation, compared to control

10 80
Control HSD(0.05) = 1.71 HSD(0.05) = 15.81
Glomus mosseae
8 Entrophospora colombiana
60
Total sugars (%)

Firmness (N)

6
40
4

20
2
A B
0 0
HSD(0.05) = 17.32 HSD(0.05) = 1.38
140
8
120
Weight loss (%)
Color (ºHue)

100 6
Epidermis
80
Pulp
60 4
40 HSD(0.05) = 17.57
2
20
C D
0 0
1 3 5 7 9 11 1 3 5 7 9 11
Days at 20 ºC Days at 20 ºC

Fig. 1. Content of total sugars (A), firmness (B), color (◦ Hue in epidermis and pulp) (C), and weight loss (D) in papaya fruits of plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae or
Entrophospora colombiana stored at 20 ◦ C. HSD: Tukey’s honest significant difference (P < 0.05).
 M.V. Vázquez-Hernández et al. / Scientia Horticulturae 128 (2011) 255–260
plants. Given the presence of native mycorrhizae, competition
between these with G. mosseae and E. colombiana during plant
development might be possible. Nevertheless G. mosseae proved
to be more competitive than E. colombiana, showing greater effects
on plant height, yield and N content of fruits. Competition among
mycorrhizal fungi species is mainly established by the amount
of inoculum and, subsequently, by growth capacity of infective
hyphae (within and outside the roots), and the formation of new
infection units (Wilson, 1984; Sanders and Sheikh, 1983). The sig-
nificant differences in the same parameters in plants inoculated
with G. mosseae compared to the control, seems to indicate that
G. mosseae has better adaptability to edaphic and climatic condi-
tions than E. colombiana. It is possible as well that better results
obtained by G. mosseae are due to the high association of this genus
with papaya plants (Khade and Rodrigues, 2009; Trindade et al.,
2006).
In this experiment, sugar content of ‘Maradol’ papaya fruit was
lower than its values reported by Pérez-Carrillo and Yahia (2004)
and Gayosso-García et al. (2010), attributed to a possible dilu-
tion because of rain water excess days before harvest (González
et al., 2006). However Allan (2002) points out that fruit sugar
content can vary depending on the season. Content of total sug-
ars of the mycorrhizal plant fruits was slightly lower than that
of the control, probably due to the fact that mycorrhizal asso-
ciation provokes translocation of sugars towards the root being
required by the fungus (Goussous and Mohammad, 2009). The
increase of fruit size, and consequently less weight loss, was
another beneficial effect of mycorrhizae, since bigger fruits have
less surface area/volume ratio than the smaller fruits produced
by control plants (Ahmad et al., 2006; Wills et al., 1998). There
was significant positive correlation between N content in fruits
with fruit weight, but a reverse relation between N content with
fruit firmness. Several studies show high correlation between N
content and fruit size and yield; for example, high nitrogen fer-
tilizer doses caused considerably bigger fruit growth of raspberry
and increased yield (Quezada et al., 2007). In other studies, inverse
correlation between N content and fruit firmness is reported on
apple (Nava et al., 2008), tomato (Villarreal et al., 2002), peach
(Hernández-Fuentes et al., 2004), and strawberry (Mukkun et al.,
2001).
5. Conclusions
Inoculation with G. mosseae and E. colombiana increased papaya
yield by improving setting and fruit weight. N and Fe supply to
fruits was favored by G. mosseae, and that of Ca and Fe by E.
colombiana. The inoculation with both mycorrhizae species affected
nutrient content in soil to a lesser degree at the end of the experi-
ment, with respect to the control. G. mosseae increased significantly
papaya plant height. Plant inoculation with G. mosseae and E.
colombiana did not affect papaya fruit quality. G. mosseae and E.
colombiana significantly reduced weight loss, an important aspect
in papaya, given the high transpiration and perishability of the
fruits. G. mosseae had better influence in various aspects, pos-
sibly due to greater association with papaya plants and better
adaptability to edaphic and environmental conditions in the study
region.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank LPI-7 (Línea Prioritaria de Investigación en
Inocuidad, Calidad de Alimentos y Bioseguridad), Colegio de Post-
graduados, and Fundación Produce de Guerrero for the financial
support to this project.
259
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