Development of carrier based in vitro produced arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inocula for organic agriculture

Abstract

Studies on the advantageous effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are providing new possible ways to exploit them as biofertilizers in sustainable agriculture. Many studies have described the potential of root organ culture (ROC) system for production of AM fungal inocula. However there is a need for development of a suitable carrier formulation to support in vitro produced AM fungal inocula when mixed with substrate, so as to enable the delivery of inocula in the rhizosphere. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the organic carrier formulation consisting of vermiculite as the main component along with cattle manure, wood powder and wood ash in different proportions; and its ability to retain inoculum potential of the in vitro produced AM fungal propagules of Rhizoglomus intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae. Treatment 5 comprising of carrier formulation (vermiculite: cow dung powder: wood powder: wood ash) in the ratio of 20:8:2:1 was observed to be as the best carrier treatment for both the in vitro produced AM species. The in vitro produced propagules of both AM species were viable and effectively colonized the roots of Eleusine coracana Gaertn. The method established shows the efficiency of the carrier formulation in sustaining the inoculum potential of in vitro produced AM propagules for mass multiplication and possibility in application.