Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Mycorrhizae and algae extract effects on cucumber growth, yield, and nutraceutical quality of fruits under greenhouse conditions
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Mohammed Hanar Jamal, Sulaiman Salam Mahmud, Mahmood Ayub Karim, Halshoy Hawar Sleman, Fattah Omar Ali
Research Articles | Published: 18 December, 2025
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Keywords: n Cucumis sativusn , Biostimulants, Productivity, Nutrients, Phenolic compounds, Antioxidants
Abstract
Microbial and organic plant biostimulants are environmentally friendly options that enhance nutrient absorption, promote plant growth, and improve productivity in terms of both quantity and quality. Thus, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of biostimulants including fungus specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-Glomus mosseae (AMF-Gs), and marine algae extract (MAE) at three concentrations (600, 1200, and 1800 g/ha), as well as their combination impact on the performance of cucumber plants grown under greenhouse conditions. The results demonstrated that soil inoculation with AMF-Gs and soil application of MAE, both alone and in combination, improved most of the studied characteristics related to root and shoot growth, yield components, and nutraceutical quality of the fruits. Moreover, the most effective treatment was the combination of AMF-Gs inoculation and soil application of MAE at 600 g/ha (T6: AMF-Gs + MAE 1), which maintained a good balance between the plant yield components and the nutraceutical quality of the fruits. Therefore, farmers can utilize these biostimulants to make production more sustainable for consumers, while also maintaining soil health and promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
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Author Information
Horticulture Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq