Use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in soil-less substrate strawberry production to increase resource use efficiency and fruit quality

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This proposal focuses on increasing the yield and ensuring fruit supply from substrate strawberry production. To avoid soil borne diseases, nearly 40% of strawberry production is grown in soil-less substrate under protection where nutrient and water are better controlled according to the crop requirement. This proposal will develop new biological products (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi – AMF, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria – PGPR) to amend the substrate in order to improve resource use efficiecny, as one of key drivers in the delivery of sustainable intensive agriculture. The present proposal investigates whether application of AMF and PGPR products in commercial substrates will result in increased resource use efficiency, fruit quality, and tolerance to powdery mildew over different combinations of cultivars and substrate types.