INFLUENCE OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT STATUS IN CHICKPEA PLANT

Abstract

The greatest challenge of today’s agriculture is to feed the growing population and restore the natural resources. World over demand of crops in market is more than production. Indian crop production needs to be doubled and just to maintain the present precipitate consumption. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes environmental pollution both at the manufacturing and application sites. It is therefore most necessary to reduce the dependence on chemical inputs in agriculture. This is possible only through eco friendly approaches of farming system. Besides other biotechnological interventions, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could be used as bio inoculants for promotion of growth, development, quality and yield of vegetables that too under an integrated Plant growth substances management system. Mycorrhizal fungi are used in conventional agriculture to improve crop production and productivity. A pot culture was performed at botanical garden of School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University Gwalior to examine the effect of Acaulospora kentinensis on growth and certain biochemical parameters in chickpea. Plants were raised in triplicates through the pot culture, containing sterile soil. Plastic pots of 18” × 12”size were used for this purpose. Pots were placed at a sunny place after the seed sowing. And after the seed germination, plants were irrigated as when required. After germination the inoculated plants along with their controls was sampled at 30, 60 and 90 days. During sampling it was found that due to AMF symbiosis all growth and biochemical parameters were increased.