Adquisición de silicio en banano (musa sp. var. williams) inoculados con micorrizas arbusculares bajo condiciones controladas

Abstract

Bananas are the most economically important crop in Ecuador. One of the problems facing many crops is soil over-fertilization. Silicon (Si) is a nutrient that influences plant growth; however, the Si cycle in banana crops is disrupted by the systematic removal of leaf litter and harvested produce. Biol is a biological fertilizer associated with microorganisms, and its application triggers growth factors or defense mechanisms against pathogen attacks. Together, these three inputs (Si, Biol, and AMF) could offer an eco-friendly alternative for improving soil health and protecting plants against pathogenic organisms. In this experiment, seventy-two plants were treated with varying concentrations of silicon oxide (SiO2), in addition to biol and AMF. Treatments inoculated with AMF exhibited a high percentage of mycorrhizal colonization, reaching virtually 100% by the end of the experiment. SiO2 concentrations of 100 and 300 mg/L yielded the greatest plant heights, though there were no significant differences between them. In this experiment, seventy-two plants were used with varying concentrations of silicon oxide (SiO2), in addition to *biol* and AMF. Treatments inoculated with AMF exhibited a high percentage of mycorrhizal colonization, reaching virtually 100% by the end of the experiment. The 100 and 300 mg/L SiO2 concentrations yielded the highest values ​​for plant height, though without significant differences.