Potential of Endophytic Fungal Isolates in Improving Productivity and Postharvest Marketable Fruit Qualities of Tomato

Abstract

In Tanzania, low tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) yield and postharvest marketable fruit qualities remain significant limitations for tomato grower’s profit. Seven endophytic fungal isolates from pyrethrum and Lemongrass leaf and or flowers were evaluated to promote tomato productivity and fruit qualities. The isolates were inoculated by priming the seeds in spore suspension, and the variations in the number of germinated seeds, seedling vigour, yield and fruit qualities were compared across the treatments. It was observed that only three isolates induced more than 50% seed germination. Epf1 and Epl1 isolates showed significant promotion of seed germination (F 0.05 (pdf, 23) = 8.121 and P = 0.001) and seedling vigour. Isolate Epf1 increased fruit number (18.4%) and weight (17%) but reduced fruit size (0.63%); the Epl1 increased fruit size (12%) and reduced fruit number (14.4%). The Epf1 induced delayed fruit ripening, colour development and softening, decaying, and prolonged shelf life by 9 days. These findings indicate that promoting tomato productivity and postharvest marketable fruit qualities is isolate-specific; therefore, it requires diligent screening. Incorporation of the Epf1 isolate through seed priming with fungal spore suspension demonstrated a high potential for increasing tomato productivity and postharvest marketable fruit qualities.