Arny Alexis Matos Alegria

Mrs. Arny Alexis Matos Alegria

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 January 2025 in Agronomy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LSLuis G. Sarmiento-López
Luis G. Sarmiento-López
AAArny Alexis Matos Alegria
Arny Alexis Matos Alegria
MSMariana E Cesario Solis
Mariana E Cesario Solis
DTDaniel Tapia-Maruri
Daniel Tapia-Maruri
PGPaul Goodwin
Paul Goodwin
LCLuis Cardenas
Luis Cardenas
Zeolite, a microporous mineral with strong ion binding, can enhance nutrient availability and growth of plants, such as maize (Zea mays L.). Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis has also been shown to enhance nutrient availability and growth of plants, including maize. However, the interaction between AM symbiosis and zeolite is poorly understood. In this study, the effect on growth of maize was examined following soil treatment with N-enriched (ZN+) zeolite, which could retain 19.68% N, or N-free zeolite (ZN−), compared to N-enriched or N-free vermiculite (VN+ and VN−). There was a 2.7-times increase in the growth of maize under ZN+ treatment compared to ZN−, indicating that N could be released from zeolite for plant growth, and a 3.8-times increase with ZN+ treatment compared to VN− or VN+, indicating that zeolite was more effective than vermiculite in releasing N for plant growth. Subsequently, ZN+ and ZN− treatments were examined with non-AM (M−) and AM (M+) treatments using Rhizophagus irregularis. ZN+ M+ treatment led to higher AM colonization and development compared to M+ ZN−treatment, indicating an interaction of AM in roots with N from zeolite. PCA revealed improvements in leaf N content, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic performance, and secondary metabolites with M+ ZN+ treatment, which was also observed in comparison to M−ZN+ and M− ZN−treatments, further supporting the benefit of combining N from zeolite with an AM fungus. The combination of N released from N-enriched zeolite and AM symbiosis offers a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers to improve maize growth.