Abstract

Roots and fruit of wild cucumber (Cucumis myriocarpus Naude.) contain cucurbitacin A (C32H46O9), whereas leaves are cucurbitacin-free and therefore the plant is used as a leafy indigenous vegetable in most marginalized communities in South Africa. Cucurbitacin A, both in vivo and in vitro, was shown to be highly toxic to certain pests and pathogens. It was, therefore, in this backdrop that a study was initiated to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF) on growth of C. myriocarpus seedlings. Four-weeks old seedlings of C. myriocarpus were treated with MycorootTM AMF at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 g/pot. At 56 days after the treatment, AMF had no plant growth variables of C. myriocarpus and, therefore, should not be used in the production of this plant as an indigenous leafy vegetable.