, BORIE BORIE, FERNANDO RICARDO, CASTILLO RUBIO, CLAUDIA GIOVANNA, Castillo, Claudia G.R., Solano, Jaime, Collinao, Mauricio, Catalán, Rocío, Campos, Pedro, Aguilera, Paula, Sieverding, Ewald, Borie, Fernando R.

Intercropping is especially relevant for low-income farmers when crop production is developed in soils under the new scenario produced by climatic change, mainly water shortage and low availability of nutrients especially P. An example of this would happen in volcanic soils of Southern Chile with high P fixing capacity and where most cereals are cropped. The aim of this study was to compare the benefits obtained on soil biochemical properties and on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth when sowed under monoculture or intercropped with non-mycorrhizal plants such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), canola (Brassica napus L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) Wheat plants parameters such as shoot growth and morphological root traits together with some soil biological and chemical characteristics were measured after 30 and 44 d of plant growing in pots under controlled conditions. Results showed nonsignificant differences on growth parameters (i.e., height and shoot/root biomass) and P acquisition between monocrop and intercropped wheat. Conversely, wheat root morphological traits namely total length, root area, and forks were greatly reduced (around 50%) regardless of plant species. Intercropping tended to increase P availability and significantly reduced rhizosphere soil pH, with the lowest levels observed for wheat-canola combination (from 7.5 to 5.6). Intercropping produced a slight reduction in mycorrhizal colonization but increased over 100% viable spores number and exerted a variable effect on the microbial C-biomass, with greater values observed in wheat-canola combination (1.49 mg g-1). These results encourage us to deepen the use of some new plant combinations in family farming carried out in volcanic soils. © 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

, BORIE BORIE, FERNANDO RICARDO, CASTILLO RUBIO, CLAUDIA GIOVANNA, Ortiz-Vidal, Nancy, Borie, Fernando R., Castillo, Claudia G.R., Sieverding, Ewald, Aguilera, Paula

The objective of this study was to characterize the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community associated with local varieties of Pinot noir, Sauvignon blanc, and Chardonnay grown in the Malleco and Cautín valleys, in La Araucanía region, Chile. The research attempted to answer the following question: How do soil and climatic conditions, as well as cultivar characteristics could influence root colonization, spore abundance, and AMF composition in vineyards in this emerging region? Rhizosphere samples were collected from two locations and six grapevine cultivars. Root colonization rates and AMF spore abundance were measured, and the spores present were morphologically identified. In addition, differences in the AMF community were evaluated regarding cultivar and plant age. The results showed root colonization rates higher than 50%, with no significant differences between sites. However, variations in spore abundance and AMF community composition were observed among cultivars. Twelve AMF genera were identified, including Glomus, Sclerocystis, Dominikia, Rhizoglomus, Oehlia, and Paraglomus. Overall, Glomus rubiforme, Sclerocystis sp. CL1, Rhizoglomus irregulare, and Diversispora versiformis were the most abundant morphotypes. Additionally, R. irregulare, G. rubiforme, and Paraglomus occultum were consistently detected across nearly all analyzed rhizospheres. The presence of AMF genera varies according to cultivar, but not according to clones or plant age. It is hypothesized that differences in root architecture and root exudates of different grapevine cultivars are responsible for the observed variations in the composition of native AMF. These factors should be further investigated in future studies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.