The trend of spore numbers in soil during the ontogenetic cycle of micropropagated and mycorrhizal artichokes

Two trials were carried out to evaluate the trends of spore numbers in soil and the ontogenetic cycle of micropropagated and mycorrhizal artichoke The objective of the first trial was to assess the connected effect of two biotechnological techniques, those of micropropagation and mycorrhizal inoculation, on spore in soil correlated with the type of fertilization (mineral or organic) In the second trial the ontogenetic cycle and the growth of root apparatus and the reaction to off-shoots sprouting on the treated plants (micropropagated and mycorrhizal plants) were studied. The results of the first trial show the number of spores decreases in the soil in the periods of yield of the artichoke plant. This trend was identical in the two cropping seasons taken into consideration both for the plants treated with organic fertilizer as well as for the plants treated with mineral fertilizer. However, in the presence of organic fertilizer, the quantity of the spores in the soil was always higher. The results of the second trial show a good quality of treated plants. Indeed, they have a greater precocity of ontogenetic cycle and a greater exuberance of vegetation in comparison with the propagation materials usually used for this crop (off-shoots).