Arbuscular mycorrhiza: isolation, characterization and evaluation of plant growth promoting properties

Abstract

In the present study, potent Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) spores were isolated by wet sieving and decanting method from the soil samples. The International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM) worksheet was used for the characterization of the isolated spores. Finally, for evaluation of PGP activities, Petri plate assay followed by pot assay was used. Three AMF spores were characterized as Glomus fasciculatum, Scutellospora spp. and Acaulospora appendicular, out of which Glomus fasciculatum was used for evaluation of its effect on growth and development of wheat plant. In pot assay under normal condition, plants inoculated with AMF in non-sterile and sterile soil showed significant increase in root (14.07cm, 15.85cm) and shoot (18.72cm, 24.2cm) length respectively compared with control plant. In normal condition, highest contents of chlorophyll a (57.12mg/gm), b (20.14mg/gm) and total chlorophyll (78.45mg/gm) were observed in sterile soil inoculated with seed. Study also showed that AMF has notable effect on micro and macro nutrient content of the pot soil. In normal condition AMF inoculated non-sterile and sterile soil showed increase in N (148.72kg/ha and 150.54kg/ha) and K (145.95kg/ha and 149.78kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.01kg/ha and31.17kg/ha) was observed as compared with control and under saline soil condition, non-sterile and sterile soil also show increase in N (147.54kg/ha and 149.54kg/ha) and K (141.78kg/ha and 150.38kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.07kg/ha and 33.02kg/ha) was observed as compared with control.