Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation increases yield and nutritional quality of yellow and purple fleshed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Authors: Carrara, Joseph; REDDIVAR, LAVANYA - Purdue University; Lehotay, Steven; ZANATI, GLADIS - Rodale Institute; Heller, Wade

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2023
Publication Date: 3/18/2023
Citation: Carrara, J.E., Reddivar, L., Lehotay, S.J., Zanati, G., Heller, W. 2023. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation increases yield and nutritional quality of yellow and purple fleshed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). American Journal of Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-023-09910-w.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-023-09910-w

Interpretive Summary: Potatoes are the most highly consumed vegetable in the United States and are the primary source of antioxidants in the American diet. Therefore, technologies and growth methods that aim to enhance the nutritional quality of potatoes can have positive impacts on public health. Based on past success with other food crops, we hypothesized that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) would increase both the yield and nutritional quality of potatoes. To test this hypothesis, we grew yellow fleshed (cv. Lehigh) and purple fleshed (cv. Adirondack Blue) potatoes in containers with several single species AMF inoculants and one indigenous mixed-species population inoculant. Overall, we found that AMF inoculation increased potato tuber yield, antioxidant activity, and soluble sugar concentrations of both potato varieties, and that the extent of these increases varied by mycorrhizal species. Future research should examine the extent to which inoculation with the most beneficial AMF species reported here improves yield and nutritional quality in the field setting.

Technical Abstract: Potatoes are the most highly consumed vegetable in the United States and are the primary source of antioxidants in the American diet. Therefore, technologies and growth methods that aim to enhance the nutritional quality of potatoes can have positive impacts on public health. Based on past success with other food crops, we hypothesized that inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) would increase both the yield and nutritional quality of potatoes. To test this hypothesis, we grew yellow fleshed (cv. Lehigh) and purple fleshed (cv. Adirondack Blue) potatoes in containers with several monospecific AMF inoculants comprised of Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, or Claroideoglumus etunicatum, and one indigenous mixed-species population inoculant. Overall, we found that AMF inoculation increased potato tuber yield, antioxidant activity, and soluble sugar concentrations of both potato varieties, and that the extent of these increases varied by mycorrhizal species. Future research should examine the extent to which inoculation with the most beneficial AMF species reported here improves yield and nutritional quality in the field setting.