Agriculture (Feb 2021)

Productivity and Nutritional Trait Improvements of Different Tomatoes Cultivated with Effective Microorganisms Technology

  • Giuseppina Tommonaro,
  • Gennaro Roberto Abbamondi,
  • Barbara Nicolaus,
  • Annarita Poli,
  • Costantino D’Angelo,
  • Carmine Iodice,
  • Rocco De Prisco

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11020112
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 2
p. 112

Abstract

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The use of ecofriendly strategies, such as the use of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria, to improve the yield and quality of crops has become necessary to satisfy the growing demand of food and to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In this study, we report the effects of an innovative microbial inoculation technique, namely Effective Microorganisms (EM), compared with traditional approaches, on productivity and nutritional aspect of four tomato varieties: Brandywine, Corbarino Giallo, S. Marzano Cirio 3, S. Marzano Antico. Results showed an increase of plant productivity as well as an enhanced antioxidant activity mainly in San Marzano Antico and Brandywine varieties treated with EM technology. Moreover, the polyphenol and carotenoid contents also changed, in response to the plant treatments. In conclusion, the application of EM® technology in agriculture could represent a very promising strategy in agricultural sustainability.

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