Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation enhanced banana plant growth and fruit yield in Central-northern Tanzania

Banana is an important crop in the tropical and subtropical regions, where it serves as a staple food and a significant source of households’ income. However, traditional farming practices often fall short in addressing the challenges in banana cultivation during weaning and hardening phases, necessitating innovative approaches to enhance plant growth and resilience. Although Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) have been recognized for facilitating nutrient and water uptake and overall plant growth in other crops, limited understanding regarding the potential of diverse AMF species in promoting plant growth and enhancing banana fruit yields necessitates further intensive experimental studies. In this context, two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of different AMF strains (Rhizophagus intraradices, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Rhizophagus clarus) inoculation on banana (var. Williams) plant growth and fruit yield under the nursery and field conditions. The results indicate that AMF inoculation resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) and positive increase in banana plant growth and fruit yield, with R. intraradices recording the highest values for the investigated plant growth and yield parameters. Overall, the findings of this study revealed that AMF inoculants can be a useful addition technique for quick production of good quality in vitro banana plant material and enhanced banana fruit yields.