Tanwar Most of the vegetable crops are known to depend upon arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AM) symbiosis for growth and development, since AM fungi provide nutrients and water in exchange for photosynthates. The influences of AM fungi (glomus intraradices (G) and Acaulospora laevis (A)) with Trichoderma viride (T) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (P) alone and in combinations on growth, mycorrhization, chlorophyll content, nutrient uptakes, and yield of broccoli plants were studied in pot culture under glasshouse conditions. The obtained results demonstrated that the single inoculation of broccoli plants with T. viride significantly increased the above ground fresh weight, root length, chlorophyll b, head diameter, root phosphorus, and shoot nitrogen in comparison to uninoculated control plants. On the other hand, consortium of G+A+T+P significantly increased plant height, above ground dry weight, root fresh weight, chlorophyll a, head fresh weight, and root nitrogen content. Similarly, G+T showed maximum leaf area, and P alone showed maximum uptake of shoot phosphorus. Whereas when P was supplied along with T, early flowering was recorded. AM fungal colonisation was negligible and only root tips were found infected in G or A treated plants which confirms low dependency of broccoli on AM fungi.

Two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis either alone or in combination with Trichoderma viride showed the dependence of Rauwolfia serpentina on endomycorrhizal fungi. After 60 days, G. mosseae singly or in combination with Trichoderma viride showed enhanced height increment compared to control plants. Maximum phosphorus content was shown by plants treated with G. mosseae plus T. viride (0.444 ± 2.62) in roots and (0.437 ± 4.71) in shoots. Phosphorus content in roots was more than that in shoots. Chlorophyll content and stomatal conductivity also showed similar trend.

: Salvia officinalis (Sage) is a popular kitchen herb, member of mint (Lamiaceae) family has been cultivated for its wide range of medicinal values. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are beneficial symbionts for plant growth and development and offer a viable replacement of high input agricultural technology employed for production of environmentally hazardous fertilizers. Therefore, the present study was focused to analyze the effect of two AM fungi (Acalospora laevis and Glomus mosseae) along with Trichoderma viride, alone and in combination, on different growth parameters of S.officinalis in a green house pot experiment with sterilized soil. AM inoculum and T.viride showed significant increase of different growth parameters after 45 and 90 days of inoculation. Among all treatments, dual combination of A.laevis plus T.viride was most effective in increasing shoot length, leaf area, root length, root weight, AM spore number and percent root colonization. Moreover, maximum increase in shoot biomass was found in plant treated with T.viride.

A total of seven Acaulospora species (Acaulospora laevis, A. lacunose, A. rehmii, A. foveata, A. gerdemanniii, A. bireticulata, A. scrobiculata) isolated from sunflower rhizosphere are described and illustrated. A key to species of Acaulospora genus has also been prepared on the basis of their morphological characters. Spores of these species have been identified by morphological characters such as hyphal attachment if any, spore ornamentation, wall layers and spore color and size.

The present investigation was aimed at analyzing the role of fumigants, i.e., different concentrations of carbon disulphide (CS 2 ) and formalin, on soil mycoflora including mycorrhizal fungi in the sunflower rhizosphere. Fungi were greatly reduced immediately after fumigant application but with the passage of time these started to reappear. In qualitative analyses of mycoflora, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium nigricans reappeared only after 20 days at all CS 2 concentrations. The quantitative study showed the boosting up of the population of Trichoderma viride with increasing concentrations of formalin and CS 2 after 20 days. High concentrations of both fumigants initially decreased mycorrhizal spore number. However, the mycorrhizal spore number increased later on. Mycorrhizal root colonization reached maximum after 40 days in treated soils. Glomus mosseae was resistant to CS 2 application but Glomus geosporum and Acaulospora laevis were inhibited by high concentrations of the fumigant.