Improving performance of cutting derived pomegranate plants using Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract

Food and Agricultural Organization has characterized Conservation Agriculture as a practice which maintains a permanent or semi-permanent organic soil cover. The soil micro-organisms and soil fauna take over the tillage function and soil nutrient balancing. Thus, soil microbes can be considered as an important functionary of conservation agriculture. To confirm the utility of microbes and to quantify the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on performance of pomegranate plants derived from hard wood cuttings (Punica granatum L.), a pot culture experiment was conducted using hard wood cuttings of pomegranate cv. ‘G-137’. Four different AMF strains were used and their effect on hardwood cuttings of pomegranate cv. ‘G-137’ was studied with respect to cutting success, growth, physiological and biochemical attributes of cutting derived plants. Amongst the AMF strains used for inoculation, Funneliformis (Glomus) mosseae, Rhizophagus (Glomus) manihotis and mixed AMF strain were found effective in improving most of the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes. Funneliformis mosseae inoculated cuttings registered the highest cutting success (82.59 % at 180 days after inoculation) and the maximum number of primary roots per cutting (13.20 and 15.80 at 90 and 180 DAI, respectively). However, cuttings inoculated with mixed AMF strain synthesized the maximum total phenols (30.53 mg Catechol equivalent /100g fresh weight at 90) and total chlorophyll (3.96 and 3.97 mg/g FW at 90 and 180 DAI, respectively). Inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi helped to improve cutting success by reducing drying of sprouted cuttings due to their certain role in increasing soil exploring capacity of roots and enhancing root biomass. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi infection had led to the improved water relations and better physiological and biochemical functioning of cutting derived plants.