Effect of different light quality and beneficial soil microbes on structural, physiological and functional traits of spinach plants

The addition of beneficial microbes (biofertilisation) to soil plays a critical role in improving crop productivity affecting plant growth and photosynthesis, nutritional and hormonal balance, and nutrient uptake. The positive results of the interactions between plant and soil microorganisms encourage the shift from conventional soil fertilisation methods to sustainable agriculture, replacing the overuse of agrochemicals. Beside fertilisation, also the modulation of light, in terms of quantity and quality, exerts important outcomes on plant growth and physiology, favouring or not the formation of mycorrhizas in the soil. Recent studies demonstrate that plants benefit from red light illumination. In this study, we assessed if and how the red light influences the plant-microbe interaction in Spinacia oleracea L., one of the most widely grown vegetables in temperate climates.