Comparative Growth Analysis of Gmelina arborea Inoculated with Phosphate Solubilising Fungi in Non-transplanted and Transplanted Conditions

Gmelina arborea is an economically important medicinal plant and endowed with properties of curing agents as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidibetic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial and analgesic activity. To promote plant growth at nursery condition to gain mass-scale quality planting material as well as conservation, a pot experiment was carried out by phosphate solubilising fungi in the rhizospheric soil of G. arborea seedling grown by two methods (1) directly from seed germination and (2) by transplantation. The effect of fungal inoculation on various growth parameters like plant height, root length, biomass, leaf no. and area as well as physiological growth parameters like relative growth rate (RGR), leaf-area ratio (LAR), net assimilation rate (NAR), quality index and root–shoot ratio was recorded on the plants of 120 days of growth. All data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance and correlation with different growth factors. Data recorded on growth revealed that Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum showed better impact on enhancement of growth of the plants in non-transplanted and transplanted conditions as compared with the control (uninoculated). Plant biomass of both experimental sets was significantly correlated with RGR and NAR. Similarly, RGR and NAR were significantly correlated in both the non-transplanted and transplanted conditions. LAR of the transplanted plants was found to be significantly correlated with biomass and RGR (P < 0.05). Effect of phosphate solubilising fungi on growth and biomass enhancement during transplantation was clearly evident during these experiments. Transplantation crops and forest trees required nutritional supplement for its establishment where these phosphate solubilising fungi may be used in nutrient acquisition and ultimately growth promotion.