Due to the fast growth of papaya few are the soils that can satisfy its demand for nutrients under natural conditions, the application of mineral fertilizers that favor the plants in the period of the transplant to the field being necessary. The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for making their hosts more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress, this being the reason why they have been employed for the seedling production of several types of fruit trees. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the influence of the inoculation of AMF and the application of organic matter in the growth of papaya (Carica papaya L. 'Formosa'), in a greenhouse. Seedlings were cultivated in sandy soil (characterized by a low P: 4ppm), inoculated with AMF and fertilized or not with 50g of bovine manure. The experimental design was entirely randomized with six treatments and three replicates: - inoculation with either native AMF, Gigaspora albida Schenck & Smith or Scutellospora hetervgama (Nicol. & Gerd.) Walker & Sanders with/without organic matter. The experiment was evaluated ev ery 10 days, considering the parameters: height, diameter of stem and number of leaves. Significant differences between fertilized and non fertilized treatments were observed on the 30th day. After 40 days, plants inoculated with native AMF presented better development than those inoculated separately with G. albida or S. heterogama, in both fertilized and non fertilized soils.
mycorrhizae; seedling production; papaya