Vol. 38 No. 1 (2024):
Articles

Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) diversity and their associated microbiota

R. Aydi Ben Abdallah
Research laboratory of Production and Protection for a Sustainable Horticulture, IRESA, University of Sousse, Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Chott Mariem, Tunisia.
H. Chikh-Rouhou
Research laboratory of Production and Protection for a Sustainable Horticulture, IRESA, University of Sousse, Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Chott Mariem, Tunisia.
H. Jabnoun-Khiareddine
Research laboratory of Production and Protection for a Sustainable Horticulture, IRESA, University of Sousse, Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Chott Mariem, Tunisia.
M. Daami-Redami
Research laboratory of Production and Protection for a Sustainable Horticulture, IRESA, University of Sousse, Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Chott Mariem, Tunisia.

Published 2024-04-04

Keywords

  • Breeding,
  • Cucurbita spp.,
  • fruit yield,
  • plant genotype,
  • soil microbial community

How to Cite

AYDI BEN ABDALLAH, R., Chikh-Rouhou, H., Jabnoun-Khiareddine, H., & Daami-Remadi, M. (2024). Pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.) diversity and their associated microbiota. Advances in Horticultural Science, 38(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.36253/ahsc-13913

Abstract

Root-associated microbiota play a key role in plant growth, resilience, and health. In this study, the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of 12 pumpkins accessions belonging to three Cucurbita species i.e. C. pepo, C. maxima, and C. moschata, was monitored using the soil dilution plating technique on specific media. All accessions tested were also screened for their production and yield parameters. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), 4 accessions of C. maxima (namely C5, C23, C14.2 and C6.2) were characterized by the greatest average fruit weight and yield, the highest actinomycetes, bacterial, Trichoderma spp. and Aspergillus spp. communities, and the lowest total fungal population in their rhizosphere. Positive correlations were noted between fruit fresh weight, culturable bacteria and Trichoderma spp. populations in the rhizopshere of pumpkins accessions. Negative correlations were noted between fruit weight and yield parameters and the total culturable fungal populations. The current study clearly demonstrated that the rhizosphere soil microbial communities have been shaped by Cucurbita species and accessions. Based on the significant links observed between soil microbiota and yield parameters, future pumpkin breeding programs could be focused on the selection of accessions that are quite able to exploit these associated beneficial microbial communities.