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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 2
10.3390/agronomy15020392
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Optimizing Tomato Seedling Production in the Tropics: Effects of Trichoderma, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Key Agronomical Factors

by
Teresa Leuratti
1,
Lorenzo Fellin
2,
Nicola Michelon
3,
Juan Bosco Palacios Tario
4,
Jaime Ernesto Santamaria Gutiérrez
5,
Giorgio Gianquinto
6,
Francesco Orsini
6,* and
Giampaolo Zanin
1
1
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
2
Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
3
Italo-Latin American International Organization (IILA), Via Giovanni Paisiello 24, 00198 Rome, Italy
4
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of El Salvador, Ciudad Universitaria, Final de Av. Mártires y Héroes del 30 julio, 503 San Salvador 07 km, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador
5
Plan Trifinio, SISTAGRO Centre, Metapan 02211, Santa Ana, El Salvador
6
Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020392
Submission received: 30 December 2024 / Revised: 24 January 2025 / Accepted: 27 January 2025 / Published: 31 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Agriculture remains a key contributor to Central America’s economy, despite climate change posing a significant threat to the sector. In the Trifinio region, already afflicted by arid summers, temperatures are expected to rise in the near future, potentially exacerbating the vulnerability of smallholder farmers. This study investigates the effects of two fungal symbionts, Trichoderma asperellum (TR) and the Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) Glomus cubense, and agronomic choices and practices such as cultivar selection, substrate type, and fertigation management on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling growth and quality. Results showed that nutrient solution and the adoption of forest topsoil as substrate significantly enhanced morphological, physiological, and quality parameters. Modifying the nutrient solution to allow for an increase in plant height of 170% and a dry weight of 163% and enhancing Dickson’s quality index (DQI) by 64.5%, while the use of forest topsoil resulted in plants 58.6% higher, with an increase of 101% in dry weight and of 90.1% in the DQI. Both T. asperellum and G. cubense had positive effects on specific growth parameters; for instance, TR increased leaf number (+6.95%), while AMF increased stem diameter (+3.56%) and root length (+19.1%), although they did not, overall, significantly increase the seedling’s biomass and quality. These findings underscore the importance of agronomic practices in mitigating the impacts of climate change on tomato production, offering valuable insights for farmers in semi-arid regions.
Keywords: substrates; fertigation; cultivar; nursery management; horticultural crops substrates; fertigation; cultivar; nursery management; horticultural crops

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MDPI and ACS Style

Leuratti, T.; Fellin, L.; Michelon, N.; Palacios Tario, J.B.; Gutiérrez, J.E.S.; Gianquinto, G.; Orsini, F.; Zanin, G. Optimizing Tomato Seedling Production in the Tropics: Effects of Trichoderma, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Key Agronomical Factors. Agronomy 2025, 15, 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020392

AMA Style

Leuratti T, Fellin L, Michelon N, Palacios Tario JB, Gutiérrez JES, Gianquinto G, Orsini F, Zanin G. Optimizing Tomato Seedling Production in the Tropics: Effects of Trichoderma, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Key Agronomical Factors. Agronomy. 2025; 15(2):392. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020392

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leuratti, Teresa, Lorenzo Fellin, Nicola Michelon, Juan Bosco Palacios Tario, Jaime Ernesto Santamaria Gutiérrez, Giorgio Gianquinto, Francesco Orsini, and Giampaolo Zanin. 2025. "Optimizing Tomato Seedling Production in the Tropics: Effects of Trichoderma, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Key Agronomical Factors" Agronomy 15, no. 2: 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020392

APA Style

Leuratti, T., Fellin, L., Michelon, N., Palacios Tario, J. B., Gutiérrez, J. E. S., Gianquinto, G., Orsini, F., & Zanin, G. (2025). Optimizing Tomato Seedling Production in the Tropics: Effects of Trichoderma, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, and Key Agronomical Factors. Agronomy, 15(2), 392. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020392

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