TITLE:
Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi from Benin Improve Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Pepper (Capsicum annuum), and Antioxidant Compounds and Capacity in Tomato under Protected Cultivation
AUTHORS:
Abiola Agonkoun, Mevognon Ricardos Aguegue, Sylvestre Abado Assogba, Olarewadjou Amogou, Marcel Yevedo Adoko, S. M. Ismaël Hoteyi, Adolphe Adjanohoun, Nicolas Desoignies, Lamine Baba-Moussa
KEYWORDS:
AMF, Biostimulants, Solanum lycopersicum, Capsicum annuum, Antioxydants, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) offer a promising alternative for improving productivity and reducing dependence on external inputs in vegetable farming systems. This study assessed the effect of Glomeraceae strains on the growth, yield and certain biochemical parameters of Solanum lycopersicum and Capsicum annuum grown in a greenhouse. The experiment was conducted in pots using a Randomized Complete Block Design comprising seven treatments: T0 (control, without inoculation or fertilisation), T1 (AMF), T2 (AMF + 25% NPK-Urea), T3 (AMF + 50% NPK-Urea), T4 (25% NPK-Urea), T5 (50% NPK-Urea) and T6 (100% NPK-Urea) with four replications per treatment for each crop. After four months of cultivation, growth and yield parameters were assessed, including shoot length and stalk diameter, the number of leaves and branches, leaf dimensions, and the number and weight of fruits per plant. In tomatoes, the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of the leaves were also determined at the end of the vegetative phase, whilst the polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant capacity, were assessed in the harvested fruits. The results show that inoculation with AMF, particularly when combined with reduced NPK-Urea, significantly improved the performance of both crops. Treatment T3 (AMF + 50% NPK-Urea) stood out in particular for its beneficial effects on the growth and yield of tomatoes and pepper, as well as on the chlorophyll and carotenoid content of tomato leaves. It also promoted the accumulation of polyphenols and improved the antioxidant capacity of the fruit. These results highlight the potential of native AMF derived from the Beninese rhizosphere to improve crop performance whilst reducing the use of mineral fertilisers, thereby offering an interesting prospect for the development of more sustainable fertilisation practices in market gardening systems.