Impacts of Olive-Mill-Wastewater-Compost Associated with Microorganisms On Yield and Fruits Quality of Tomato Under Water Stress

To date, the effect of Olive-Mill-Wastewater-Compost (OMWW-Compost) application combined with rhizospheric soil micro-organisms on tomato fruits biochemistry and quality under drought conditions has not been evaluated. The objective of this study is to highlight the effect of arbuscular-mycorrhizal-fungi (pure strain (M) and consortium (M')), and/or plant growth-promoting-rhizobacteria (Actinomycetes (A) and consortium of two bacterial strains (B)), and/or OMWW-compost (C), on production, quality, fruits biochemistry and antioxidant richness under drought stress. The application of CM'A and CM'B increased the carotenoid content to 94 and 79%, as well as increased the phenol content to 66 and 51% respectively, compared to the control under stress conditions. The CM'A improved total tocopherols and ascorbic acid contents in fruits to 57 and 85% respectively, compared to the control under water stress. Dual inoculation of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi combined with OMWW-compost appears to be a suitable alternative for drought stress management. The application of OMWW-compost in combination with rhizosphere microorganisms seems to offer the hope of a relatively cheap, easy to apply and effective way to alleviate drought stress and improve tomato fruits quality.