Vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: An alternative to increase foliar orientin and vitexin-2-O-ramnoside synthesis in Passiflora alata Curtis seedlings

• Arbuscular mycorrhiza increases concentration of flavonoids in Passiflora alata.
• Gigaspora albida promotes different responses on flavonoids metabolism.
• Vermicompost and Gigaspora albida are useful for cultivation of Passiflora alata.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase the synthesis of the secondary metabolites in Passiflora alata. However, there is no information about the role of AMF on glycosyl flavonoids metabolism. Flavonoids have neuropharmacological activity and are relevant for pharmaceutical industry. The hypothesis was that AMF improve foliar production of orientin and vitexin-2-O-ramonoside. The aim of this work was to determine the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation and vermicompost manuring, on the foliar concentration of vitexin-2-O-ramonoside and orientin in P. alata seedlings. In a greenhouse experiment, seedlings were inoculated with Gigaspora albida and cultivated with different levels of vermicompost (VC) (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 kg VC kg−1 soil). At the end of the experiment, total colonization was determined and foliar flavonoids concentration was quantified by liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mycorrhized seedlings, grown in soil with 0.15 and 0.2 kg VC kg−1 soil synthesized more flavonoids. The mycorrhization increased foliar orientin concentration in 139.34%, in seedlings cultivated in soil with 0.2 kg VC kg−1 soil. The inoculation of P. alata seedlings with G. albida promoted benefits on the orientin and vitexin-2-O-ramnoside synthesis, but responses vary according with soil fertility.