Response of three popular varieties of wheat to arbuscular mycorrhizae grown in two common soil types of central India

An experiment was conducted to study the response of three popular varieties of wheat, namely WH 147, Lok1 and Kathiya, to ten arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in two common soil types [alfisol (red) and vertisol (black)] of central India, under net-house conditions. The varieties recorded variable response in terms of growth and yield. Maximum yield was recorded in LOK-1, followed by WH 147 and Kathiya. AM inoculations significantly increased plant height, dry shoot weight, dry root weight and yield. The growth of different varieties was more vigorous in alfisol than vertisol. Maximum root: shoot ratio was recorded in Kathiya, which was significantly more than other two varieties. All the inoculants, except Acaulospora mellea and A. scrobiculata increased the root: shoot ratio. LOK-1 recorded maximum mycorrhizal dependency (MD), followed by Kathiya and WH 147. Plants grown in alfisol exhibited higher MD value than vertisol. Among different varieties, maximum phosphorus (P) uptake was recorded in Kathiya, followed by LOK-1 and WH 147. All AM inoculants significantly increased P uptake. Its higher value was recorded in plants grown in alfisol. Maximum root colonization index was recorded in WH 147, which varied from 32.4 to 47.3% in different AM treatments. Plants grown in alfisol recorded significantly higher colonization index. Thus, the results showed that AM fungi increased the growth, yield and P uptake of three popular varieties of wheat, which signifies that these can be utilized for inoculation of the crop under central Indian conditions.