Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems
IntroductionThis study evaluated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, on nutrient uptake, biomass production, and oil quality in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) under both sole and intercropping field systems.MethodsA factorial exper...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1598272/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850118586157236224 |
|---|---|
| author | Aisha A. M. Alayafi Basmah M. Alharbi Basmah M. Alharbi Awatif M. Abdulmajeed Taghreed S. Alnusaire Ayshah Aysh ALrashidi Siham M. AL-Balawi Hanan Khalaf Anazi Suliman M. S. Alghanem Omar Mahmoud Al zoubi Mona H. Soliman Mona H. Soliman |
| author_facet | Aisha A. M. Alayafi Basmah M. Alharbi Basmah M. Alharbi Awatif M. Abdulmajeed Taghreed S. Alnusaire Ayshah Aysh ALrashidi Siham M. AL-Balawi Hanan Khalaf Anazi Suliman M. S. Alghanem Omar Mahmoud Al zoubi Mona H. Soliman Mona H. Soliman |
| author_sort | Aisha A. M. Alayafi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis study evaluated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, on nutrient uptake, biomass production, and oil quality in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) under both sole and intercropping field systems.MethodsA factorial experimental design was conducted over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024), involving three cropping systems: sunflower monoculture, pumpkin monoculture, and additive sunflower–pumpkin intercropping. Each system was assessed with and without AM inoculation to determine the interactive effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis and cropping pattern.ResultsAM inoculation significantly improved root colonization, especially in intercropped pumpkins, and enhanced key plant growth parameters, including chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf number, biomass, and reproductive traits. The highest performance was recorded in AM-treated intercropped systems for both crops. Seed weight increased notably under AM inoculation, reflecting improved reproductive development. Analysis of mineral nutrient content revealed substantial improvements in macro- and micronutrient uptake with AM symbiosis. Intercropped AM-treated plants showed enhanced levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron compared to their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Additionally, AM treatments led to a marked improvement in oil yield and quality. In particular, AM-inoculated sunflower and pumpkin seeds exhibited higher total oil content and a favorable shift in fatty acid composition, characterized by increased oleic acid and reduced linoleic acid concentrations.DiscussionThese findings highlight the synergistic potential of integrating AM fungal inoculation with intercropping practices to enhance crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and oilseed quality. The results support the adoption of AM fungi as a sustainable biofertilizer strategy in modern agroecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80d907eff41e40c697fad7c1de86c7d4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-80d907eff41e40c697fad7c1de86c7d42025-08-20T02:35:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15982721598272Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systemsAisha A. M. Alayafi0Basmah M. Alharbi1Basmah M. Alharbi2Awatif M. Abdulmajeed3Taghreed S. Alnusaire4Ayshah Aysh ALrashidi5Siham M. AL-Balawi6Hanan Khalaf Anazi7Suliman M. S. Alghanem8Omar Mahmoud Al zoubi9Mona H. Soliman10Mona H. Soliman11Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaBiodiversity Genomics Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Umluj, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Burydah, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu El-Bahr, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Yanbu El-Bahr, Saudi Arabia0Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, EgyptIntroductionThis study evaluated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, on nutrient uptake, biomass production, and oil quality in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) under both sole and intercropping field systems.MethodsA factorial experimental design was conducted over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024), involving three cropping systems: sunflower monoculture, pumpkin monoculture, and additive sunflower–pumpkin intercropping. Each system was assessed with and without AM inoculation to determine the interactive effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis and cropping pattern.ResultsAM inoculation significantly improved root colonization, especially in intercropped pumpkins, and enhanced key plant growth parameters, including chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf number, biomass, and reproductive traits. The highest performance was recorded in AM-treated intercropped systems for both crops. Seed weight increased notably under AM inoculation, reflecting improved reproductive development. Analysis of mineral nutrient content revealed substantial improvements in macro- and micronutrient uptake with AM symbiosis. Intercropped AM-treated plants showed enhanced levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron compared to their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Additionally, AM treatments led to a marked improvement in oil yield and quality. In particular, AM-inoculated sunflower and pumpkin seeds exhibited higher total oil content and a favorable shift in fatty acid composition, characterized by increased oleic acid and reduced linoleic acid concentrations.DiscussionThese findings highlight the synergistic potential of integrating AM fungal inoculation with intercropping practices to enhance crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and oilseed quality. The results support the adoption of AM fungi as a sustainable biofertilizer strategy in modern agroecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1598272/fullarbuscular mycorrhiza colonizationcropping systemsCucurbita pepoHelianthus annuusnutrient uptakeseed oil quality |
| spellingShingle | Aisha A. M. Alayafi Basmah M. Alharbi Basmah M. Alharbi Awatif M. Abdulmajeed Taghreed S. Alnusaire Ayshah Aysh ALrashidi Siham M. AL-Balawi Hanan Khalaf Anazi Suliman M. S. Alghanem Omar Mahmoud Al zoubi Mona H. Soliman Mona H. Soliman Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems Frontiers in Plant Science arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization cropping systems Cucurbita pepo Helianthus annuus nutrient uptake seed oil quality |
| title | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| title_full | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| title_fullStr | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| title_short | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower–pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| title_sort | arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth nutrient uptake and oil quality in sunflower pumpkin under intercropping systems |
| topic | arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization cropping systems Cucurbita pepo Helianthus annuus nutrient uptake seed oil quality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1598272/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aishaamalayafi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT basmahmalharbi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT basmahmalharbi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT awatifmabdulmajeed arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT taghreedsalnusaire arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT ayshahayshalrashidi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT sihammalbalawi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT hanankhalafanazi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT sulimanmsalghanem arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT omarmahmoudalzoubi arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT monahsoliman arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems AT monahsoliman arbuscularmycorrhizalfungisymbiosisenhancesgrowthnutrientuptakeandoilqualityinsunflowerpumpkinunderintercroppingsystems |