Nisha Kadian

Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation and super phosphate application influence plant growth and yield of Capsicum annuum

The effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [G. mosseae (G) and A. laevis (A)] with P. fluorescence (Pf) in the presence of super phosphate (P) fertilization on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. California Wonder) was evaluated in pots under greenhouse conditions, in a completely randomized design with four levels of phosphorus fertilizer [F0–without P, F1–0.200g pot -1 (half of the recommended dose), F3–0.400g pot -1 (recommended dose) and F4–0.800g pot -1 (double the recommended dose)] having six different combinations of bioinoculants. Inoculation of bioinoclulants with F1 increased plant growth and nutrition to an acceptable level with AM fungi in combination with P. fluorescens. Application of higher dose of P fertilizer markedly decreased all the growth parameters. The prevalence of AM colonization was highest in G+A+Pf with F1. Similarly highest yield was recorded for the treatment involving multi inoculation of G+A+Pf in the treatment of F1 followed by dual inoculation of G+Pf in F0 plants. Thus this finding suggests the application of efficient bioinoculants (G+A+Pf) along with right dose of P fertilizer (half of the recommended P) during seedling transplantation to increase overall growth and yield performance of bell pepper and could be considered as a sustainable substitute to higher phosphorus fertilizer for bell pepper cultivation.

AM fungi ameliorates growth, yield and nutrient uptake in Cicer arietinum L. Under salt stress

A pot experiment was performed to see the effect of two indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis, alone and in combination on growth, biomass and mineral nutrition of Cicer arietinum under different salinity levels imposed by 4, 8, and 12 dS/m EC solution (sodium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium sulphate). All AM inoculated plants showed significant increment in growth, biomass, mineral nutrition and yield over control. The extent of bioinoculants response on plant growth as well as root colonization decreases with the increase in the level of salinity. Among all the growth parameters plant height (26.4 ± 1.14 cm), root length (13.4 ± 1.67 cm), total chlorophyll (2.33 ± 0.02 mg/100 mg f. wt), root colonization (41.6 ± 2.70%) and AM spore number (63.8 ± 1.78 per 10 gm soil) were recorded highest in dual combination (G. mosseae and A. laevis) at 4 dS/m while fresh shoot (6.80 ± 0.67 gm) and dry shoot weight (0.96 ± 0.18 gm) was found maximum in G. mosseae at the same concentration of salinity. Greater Phosphorus (P) acquisition and yield was observed at 4 dS/m with dual combination (G. mosseae and A. laevis) that possibly be responsible to protect plants from salt stress. Although Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) contents also declined with increasing salinity. Overall results showed that mycorrhizal colonization improves host plant mineral concentration and thereby increases the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of C. arietinum ameliorating the harmful effect at salinity stress.

Consortium Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescens with Various Levels of Superphosphate on Growth Improvement of Cotton (G. arboreum L.)

A pot experiment was conducted to see the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, i.e., Funneliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis to cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens in the presence of different doses of superphosphate, i.e., 750 mg/3 kg soil (half of the recommended dose), 1500 mg/3 kg soil (recommended dose), 3000 mg/3 kg soil (double than the recommended dose) with five replicates resulted in effective plant height, shoot and root biomass, root length, leaf area, root colonization, AM spore number, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, shoot and root P content, fiber yield, and acidic and alkaline phosphatase activity. All growth parameters like plant height, fresh and dry shoot weight, fresh and dry root weight, root length, leaf area, AM spore number, percent mycorrhizal root colonization, total chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, acidic and alkaline phosphatase activity, shoot and root phosphorus content, fiber yield were highest in combination F. mosseae + P. fluorescens of lower concentration. Higher dose of superphosphate markedly reduced or decreased all the growth parameters. So, vigorous growth and maximum yield of cotton can be achieved by inoculation of plant with AM fungi (F. mosseae), P. fluorescens along with half of the recommended dose of superphosphate/lower concentration.

Bioassociative effect of rhizospheric microorganisms on growth, nutrient uptake and yield of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Nitrogen applications have generated great interests in agriculture, with much of its success associated with increasing the uptake ofnitrogen by crops while reducing pollution by this chemical fertilizer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interactive effect ofrhizospheric microorganisms on nutrient uptake, yield and growth of mung bean grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. The resultsrevealed that the growth, in terms of morphology and physiology, of all the inoculated plants was better than that of the control plants. Interms of growth, plant height, fresh and dry weights and length of the roots plants inoculated with both Funneliformis mosseae + T. viridedid best. Total chlorophyll content, alkaline and acidic phosphatase activities were greatest when inoculated with only F. mosseae and freshand dry weights of shoots when inoculated only with T. viride. Significant increase in N and P uptake was recorded when inoculated withboth F. mosseae + T. viride. Overall the significant increase in growth and development was due to positive interactions among rhizosphericmicroorganisms leading to healthy and vigorously growing plants. However, there is now a need for field trails of this technique.

Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens on Growth Enhancement of Genetically Modified Bt Cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis)

The present investigation was undertaken to find out efficient strains of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Funneliformis mosseae and Acaulospora laevis) alone or in combinations with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride on growth parameters of Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) var. NCS-108 (SUNNY). All inoculated seedlings showed significant biomass production than control seedlings. Triple inoculation of A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens showed maximum increment in plant height, fresh and dry root weight, root length, total chlorophyll content, shoot phosphorus content, root phosphorus content, both acidic, and alkaline phosphatase activity, whereas fresh and dry shoot weight, leaf area, AM spore number, and stomatal conductance were found maximum in the combination F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride. Maximum fiber yield was found in the combination of F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens. These results indicate that triple inoculation of A. laevis + T. viride + P. fluorescens followed by the combination F. mosseae + A. laevis + T. viride showed significant response for inoculating Bt cotton in order to get significant growth and field with maximum yield.