The effects of Funneliformis mosseae, Trichoderma virens, and Nigella sativa seed cake on broccoli growth and physiological characteristics under greenhouse conditions

In this greenhouse study, the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, Trichoderma virens, and Nigella sativa seed cake on broccoli growth and physiology were evaluated. Key parameters assessed included color, photosynthesis, SPAD value, morphological traits (head length, head diameter, stem diameter, plant height, canopy width, head fresh and dry weights), root colonization, and soil spore density. The most pronounced results were as follows: Funneliformis mosseae applied alone, together with its binary and ternary combinations with Trichoderma virens and Nigella sativa seed cake, yielded the highest color values. Numerically, individual applications of Funneliformis mosseae and Nigella sativa seed cake produced the highest photosynthesis rates. The triple combination maximized head length, head diameter, head dry weight, and soil spore density. Funneliformis mosseae alone produced the greatest plant height, stem diameter, and canopy width. Compared with the control, the triple combination treatment significantly increased head dry weight and head length, while Funneliformis mosseae alone increased plant height and canopy width by approximately 32% and 125%, respectively, and also resulted in a 26% increase in the photosynthesis rate. Overall, these findings suggest that combining microbial inoculants and plant waste significantly improves broccoli morphology and physiological traits, highlighting their practical value as sustainable alternatives to chemical inputs in greenhouse broccoli cultivation.