1Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 001, India
2Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 001, India
*Corresponding author; E-mail: rpguptag@rediffmail.com Tel: 91(161)2401960 Ext 330/359
In vitro studies carried out using co-cultivation of VAM (G. fasciculatum) with micropropagated sugarcane plants (var. Co. J. 86) along with field investigations revealed successful mycorrhization with almost two fold increase in root biomass. These micropropagated, in vitro and ex vitro YAM infected plants showed improved survival rate, significant increase in per cent colonization, sugar content, cane height, cane yield and 25% saving of phosphatic fertilizer. Mycorrhization enabled the micropropagated plants to successfully withstand transplantation shock by providing strong rooting system and improved growth
Micropropagation, co-cultivation, mycorrhiza
