The effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi [G. mosseae (G) and A. laevis (A)] with P. fluorescence (Pf) in the presence of super phosphate (P) fertilization on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. California Wonder) was evaluated in pots under greenhouse conditions, in a completely randomized design with four levels of phosphorus fertilizer [F0-without P, F1-0.200g pot -1 (half of the recommended dose), F3-0.400g pot -1 (recommended dose) and F4-0.800g pot -1 (double the recommended dose)] having six different combinations of bioinoculants. Inoculation of bioinoclulants with F1 increased plant growth and nutrition to an acceptable level with AM fungi in combination with P. fluorescens. Application of higher dose of P fertilizer markedly decreased all the growth parameters. The prevalence of AM colonization was highest in G+A+Pf with F1. Similarly highest yield was recorded for the treatment involving multi inoculation of G+A+Pf in the treatment of F1 followed by dual inoculation of G+Pf in F0 plants. Thus this finding suggests the application of efficient bioinoculants (G+A+Pf) along with right dose of P fertilizer (half of the recommended P) during seedling transplantation to increase overall growth and yield performance of bell pepper and could be considered as a sustainable substitute to higher phosphorus fertilizer for bell pepper cultivation.

Several environmental factors adversely affect plant growth and development and final yield performance of a crop. Drought, salinity, nutrient imbalances (including mineral toxicities and deficiencies) and extremes of temperature are among the major environmental constraints to crop productivity worldwide. Development of crop plants with stress tolerance, however, requires, among others, knowledge of the physiological mechanisms and genetic controls of the contributing traits at different plant developmental stages. In the past two decades, biotechnology research has provided considerable insights into the mechanism of biotic stress tolerance in plants at the molecular level. Furthermore, different abiotic stress factors may provoke osmotic stress, oxidative stress and protein denaturation in plants, which lead to similar cellular adaptive responses such as accumulation of compatible solutes, induction of stress proteins, and acceleration of reactive oxygen species scavenging systems. Recently, various methods are adapted to improve plant tolerance to salinity injury through either chemical treatments (plant hormones, minerals, amino acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyamines and vitamins) or biofertilizers treatments (Asymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria) or enhanced a process used naturally by plants (mycorrhiza) to minimise the movement of Na+ to the shoot. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of salt tolerance. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal symbiosis and alleviation of salinity stress.

Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a highly evolved mutually beneficial relationship that exists between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and most of the vascular plants. The majority of the terrestrial plants form association with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This symbiosis confers benefits directly to the host plant’s growth and development through the acquisition of Phosphorus (P) and other mineral nutrients from the soil by the AMF. In addition, their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. They may also enhance the protection of plants against pathogens and increases the plant diversity. This is achieved by the growth of AMF mycelium within the host root (intra radical) and out into the soil (extra radical) beyond. Proper management of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi has the potential to improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems. In this review article, the discussion is restricted to the mycorrhizal benefits and their role in sustainable development.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the potential effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae & Acaulospora laevis) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) with different levels of superphosphate on Chrysanthemum indicum L. After 100 days, different plant growth parameters such as mycorrhization's characteristics, phosphatase activity and phosphorus uptake were measured. The obtained results revealed that the inoculation of plants with biofertilizers and recommended dose of superphosphate significantly improved the growth parameters. Inoculation with A. laevis + P. fluorescens at medium concentration of superphosphate showed maximum height, fresh and dry root weight, AM root colonization, AM spore count, alkaline phosphatase activity, acidic phosphatase activity and the percent phosphorus uptake in shoot and root whereas root length was maximum in G. mosseae + A. laevis + P. fluorescens. Leaf area and fresh and dry shoot weight were maximum in the treatment (G. mosseae + A. laevis + P. fluorescens) at low concentration of superphosphate. The use of AMF increased nutrient acquisition from an organic fertilizer source by enhancing acidic phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, thus facilitating P acquisition and improving plant growth.

This investigation reports a novel and low-cost method of inoculum production of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Funneliformis mosseae (sensu Glomus mosseae), using an organic medium. The experiment is a 3 £ 3 £ 4 factorial design employing three hosts, maize (Zea mays L.), lemon grass (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) and palmarosa (Cymbopogan martini (Roxb.) Wats.), three forms of sugarcane bagasse substrate (fresh, dry and compost) and four different concentrations of each substrate (without substrate, 25, 50 and 100 g pot 21 ). Mass multiplication of F. mosseae was measured in terms of AM spore number and per cent root colonization. The plant growth was monitored in terms of plant height, above-ground fresh and dry weights and root fresh and dry weights. All three grasses tested varied in their tendency to be colonized by F. mosseae and in spore formation. Maize was found to be the most appropriate host followed by lemon grass and palmarosa. In the case of maize, a positive relationship was observed between spore number and root colonization rate and compost bagasse with highest concentration, 100 g, resulted in the greatest multiplication of F. mosseae. Maize with 100 g compost bagasse, lemon grass with 25 g of dry and 50 g of compost bagasse and palmarosa with 100 g compost and fresh bagasse showed greatest increase in plant growth.