Yield measurements and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) root colonisation
Fully mature pepper fruits were harvested from 139 DAT (5 December 2017) to 272 DAT (17 April 2018). Mean fruit weight and number and marketable yield were determined for each experimental plot (replicate). Rotten fruit and those weighing < 100 g were considered unmarketable yield.
At the end of the trial, the roots of six pepper plants per experimental plot were rinsed and subsamples were used to evaluate AMF root colonisation. The root samples were cleared with 10% (w/v) KOH, stained with 0.05% (w/v) trypan blue in lactophenol, and microscopically (Stereo microscope Leica EZ4V, 32x - Leica Microsystems Srl, Buccinasco, Italy) examined for AMF colonisation. The percentage of colonised root segments was determined by the gridline intercept method (Giovannetti & Mosse, 1980).