Trichoderma asperellum increases crop yield and fruit weight of blackberry (Rubus glaucus) under subtropical Andean conditions

• Published in: Vegetos - International journal of plant research Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 209 - 215
• Main Authors: Viera, William, Noboa, Michelle, Martínez, Aníbal, Báez, Francisco, Jácome, Rosendo, Medina, Lorena, Jackson, Trevor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01-06-2019
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Physiology; Productivity; Soil; Fungus; Inoculation; Berries
• ISSN: 2229-4473; 2229-4473
• DOI: 10.1007/s42535-019-00024-5

Mora de Castilla (
Rubus glaucus
, Benth), also called blackberry, is grown mainly in Colombia and Ecuador. This fruit crop is of economic importance for farmers in the Province of Tungurahua (Ecuador). In this field research, the effect of
Trichoderma asperellum
(1.53 × 10
9
 CFU/g) inoculation was assessed on crop yield and fruit weight at three production sites (Huachi Grande, Píllaro and Tisaleo in Ecuador). Factorial experiments were conducted consisting of treatments of 0.18 g of a commercial product per plant and a second uninoculated treatment). The product was applied eight times per month and the weekly fruit harvest recorded in each of the eight applications. The inoculation of
T. asperellum
had a significant effect on crop yield and fruit weight: yield was greatest in Tisaleo (5350 g/plant) with
T. asperellum
treatment, which was increased by 17% over the uninoculated witness (4447 g/plant). Fruit weight in Píllaro was improved from 5.36 g/fruit for the uninoculated control to 6.04 g/fruit (12.6%). Additionally, the organic matter (OM) content was correlated with the fungal population in the soil. Tisaleo had the highest OM (4%) and the highest yield in this study. In conclusion, the inoculation of
T. asperellum
in the soil positively affected crop productivity.