Indexing

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth of Salvadora persica L. Seedlings under the Nursery Condition

Author: Bhawana Sharma, Neelam Verma, R. K. Gupta and R.R. Lohara

PDF Download PDF

Abstract

Salt affected soil is a major challenge for vegetation conservation and restoration in many districts of Rajasthan. The high salt content in the soil affects its fertility and this type of soil cannot support vegetation and plantation activities. Plants face toxicity of ions and physiological drought due to presence of excessive salt in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been proved to support plant growth under salt stress. Though, the property of these fungi promoting growth in salt affected areas is not widely used in the afforestation programme. The application of AMF technology can contribute to the rehabilitation of this problem soil. Salvadora persica is an important tree species that survive in salt affected soils, but is not widely used in plantation activities due to slow-growing nature. In this study, a nursery experiment was conducted to test the effects of AMF on S. persica, a tree species with significant potential for afforestation of salt affected soil.

Keywords

AM fungi, Rehabilitation, salt affected soil, afforestation.

Conclusion

The study of mycorrhizal associations of S. persica is critical to access their dependence on mycorrhizal fungi as well as selecting out candidate species of endomycorrhizal fungi for mass multiplication. Inoculation by G. fasciculatum and G. aggregatum increased, shoot height and biomass of S. persica seedlings. Regarding the enhancement of plant growth, G. fasciculatum was found superior as compare to G. aggregatum. Selected AM fungi may be used for fortifying seedlings in the nursery before taking them at plantation sites. Further field trials are required to evaluate the impact on growth and survival of S. persica inoculated by AM fungi under the field condition as the present results were obtained under the nursery conditions. We can conclude our experiment with the recommendation that the inoculation with AM fungi especially G. fasciculatum had a strong impact on seedling growth of S. persica.

References

-

How to cite this article

Sharma, B., Verma, N., Gupta, R. K. and Lohara, R.R. (2021). Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth of Salvadora persica L. Seedlings under the Nursery Condition. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3): 315-320.