Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Enhances Nutritional Quality of Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Fruits and Cladodes

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the chemical composition
of the fruits and cladodes of two Opuntia ficus-indica cultivars, characterized by their red
and yellow fruit color, were investigated under field conditions. AMF treatment was
found to significantly influence the concentration of phytonutrients in the fruits. The
concentrations of betacyanin and betaxanthin increased by 1.2- and 1.9-fold in red and
yellow fruits, respectively. The polyphenol content increased by 50%, with piscidic acid
being the most abundant polyphenol in the red fruits. A similar increase in ascorbic acid
was observed in the yellow fruits. Regarding the cladodes, AMF treatment was found to
significantly affect macronutrient levels, with glucose and fructose contents being 90% and
34% higher, respectively. Additionally, cladodes from plants grown with AMF inoculation
showed a 20% increase in ascorbic acid and phosphorus. These results demonstrate cultivarand
part-of-plant-dependent effects of AMF inoculation and confirm the nutritional and
sustainable potential of Opuntia ficus-indica, particularly when coupled with mycorrhizal
biofertilization practices.