*Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136119
Department of Plant Pathology, CSKHPKV, Palampur-176062
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonize the roots of majority of crop plants, forming a symbiosis and act as efficient scavengers of nutrients and as biocontrol agents. However, the utilization of these fungi is limited by the lack of availability of inoculum in large quantity. The most important consideration in inoculum production is the choice of the fungal isolates which are capable of promoting growth of target plant alongwith the selection of host plant species favouring fungus growth. The goal of present study was to evaluate the influence of different host plants (Barley, Sesbania and Onion) and waste substrates (sugarmill ash and sugarmill bagasse) on the development of Acaulospora laevis and Glomus mosseae AM fungi. It was found that in case of Acauluapora laevis, Allium cepa was the best host and ash as substrate hollowed by combination of H. vulgare and bagasse. AM spore count was found maximum with Allium cepa as host and ash as substrate (48±2.51) followed by H. vulgare (38.33±2.51) and Sesbania aculeata (36±9.16) after 75 days of inoculation. While in case of bagasse as substrate spore count (80.33±1.15) and percent mycorrhizal root colonization (100±0.00) were maximum in H. vulgare plants followed by A. cepa, S. aculeata and control plants. While in case of G. mosseae, Allium cepa was proved to be the best host with regard to spore count and root colonization when ash and bagasse were used as substrate. Other parameters like plant height, dry root and shoot weight were also investigated in all plants.
