Vegetative growth of Solanum lycopersicum cv. L-43 with inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in an Arenosol soil

The use of mycorrhizal biofertilizers is promoted as an efficient and environmentally safe alternative in sustainable agricultural production. This research aimed to evaluate the response of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. L-43 (tomato) to the inoculation of three strains of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (INCAM-2, INCAM-4 and INCAM-11) in Arenosol soil from Pinar del R & iacute;o, Cuba. The experiment was established on a completely randomized design with four treatments, including a control (without inoculation), and five replicates. Growth variables such as stem length, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf area and biomass were analyzed. Additionally, mycorrhizal colonization in the root system was also determined. The growth dynamics of tomato plants was similar in the treatments evaluated, although 35 days after transplanting, a slight increase in stem length (11.3 %), leaf area (17.7 %) and the values of fresh (16.5 %) and dry (13.9 %) biomass was achieved with the INCAM-4 strain. Mycorrhizal colonization was more effective when the INCAN-4 and INCAM-11 strains were inoculated, showinga differentiated effect on the biomass production of the plants.These results suggest the INCAM-4 strain as an alternative for biofertilization of tomato in Arenosol soil.