Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus and plant growth promoting rhizomicroorganisms (PGPR's) on medicinal plant Solanum viarum seedlings

A green house nursery study was conducted to assess the interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus aggregatum and some plant growth promoting rhizomicrooganisms (PGPR's), Bacillus coagulans and Trichoderma harzianum, in soil and their consequent effect on growth, nutrition and content of secondary metabolities of Solanum viarum seedlings. Triple inoculation of G. aggregatum+B. coagulans+T. harzainum with Solanum viarum in a green house nursery study resulted in maximum plant biomass (plant height 105 cm and plant dry weight 12.17 g), P, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn and secondary metabolities [total phenols (129.6 microg g(-1) f.wt.), orthodihydroxy phenols (90.6 microg g(-1) f.wt.), flavonoids (3.94 microg g(-1) f.wt.), alkaloids (5.05 microg g(-1) f.wt.), saponins (5.05 microg g(-1) f.wt.) and tannins (0.324 microg g(-1) f.wt.)] of S. viarum seedlings. The mycorrhizal root colonization and spore numbers in the root zone soil of the inoculated plants increased. The enzyme activity namely acid phosphatase (53.44 microg PNP g(-1) soil), alkaline phosphatase (40.95 microg PNP g(-1) soil) and dehydrogenase (475.5 microg PNP g(-1) soil) and total population of B. coagulans (12.5x10(4) g(-1)) and T. harzianum (12.4 x 10(4) g(-1)), in the root zone soil was found high in the triple inoculation with G. aggregatum+B. coagulans+T. harzianum that proved to be the best microbial consortium.     

Uptake of zinc, cadmium and phosphorus by arbuscular mycorrhizal maize (Zea mays L.) from a low available phosphorus calcareous soil spiked with zinc and cadmium

In a multifactorial pot experiment, maize (Zea mays L.) with or without inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae BEG167 was grown in a sterilized soil spiked with three levels of zinc (0, 300 and 900 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) and three levels of cadmium (0, 25 and 100 mg Cd kg⁻¹ soil). At harvest after 8 weeks of growth, the proportion of root length of inoculated plants colonized decreased with increasing Zn or Cd additon, and was 56% in the absence of both metals and was reduced significantly to 27% in the presence of the higher levels of both metals. Mycorrhizal plants had higher biomass than non-mycorrhizal controls except at the highest soil level of Cd. Cadmium had more pronounced effects on plant biomass than did Zn at the levels studied and the two metals showed a significant interaction. The data suggest that mycorrhizal inoculation increased plant growth with enchancement of P nutrition, perhaps increasing plant tolerance to Zn and Cd by a dilution effect. AM inoculation also led to higher soil solution pH after harvest, possibly reducing the availability of the metals for plant uptake, and lowered the concentrations of soluble Zn and Cd in the soil solution, perhaps by adsorption onto the extrametrical mycelium.     

VA菌根真菌对玉米生长及根际土壤微生态环境的影响

用两种不同的VA菌根真菌Glomus mosseae和Glomuscaledonium接种玉米进行盆栽试验。结果表明，两种菌株均能侵染玉米，促进玉米生长．其中以Glomus caledonium的侵染率和作用较为明显。接种后，根区土壤中的细菌、放线菌、固氮菌的数量和微生物生物量明显增加，但真菌的数量则稍有下降。此外．菌根的形成也改善了根区土壤的微生态环境，为下一造作物的生长积累了养分基础。     

接种Glomus versiforme对红三叶草利用有机磷的影响

以红三叶草为材料，利用三室隔网培养方法，研究接种菌根真菌Glmous versiforme对土壤有机磷及外加有机磷化合物植酸钠（Na-Phytate)、核糖核酸（RNA）和卵磷脂（Lecithin)的利用效率，植株生长7wk后收获测定植标干物重、含磷量和根系菌根侵染率，结果表明：接种菌根真菌能明显增加植株干物重、含磷量和吸磷总量，与各有机磷处理相比，无机磷（KH2PO4）处理生长效应最好，施用有机磷化合物各处理与CK相比均明显促进了植株生长，但不同有机磷处理之间没有显著差异，在植株吸磷量上，各接种处理均为相应CK处理的2倍以上，其中磷酸二氢钾处理吸磷量最高，菌根对照植物的根外菌丝虽然被限制在有限的空间内，但其吸磷量也达到不施磷的CK－M处理的2倍多，这说明由于菌根的形成植物能利用土壤因有的有机磷来满足自身生长的需要，表3参10     

丛枝菌根真菌与重金属的相互作用对玉米根际微生物数量和磷酸酶活性的影响

以玉米为供试植物 ,研究了砂培条件下不同丛枝菌根真菌 (Acaulosporalaevis,Glomuscaledonium ,Glomusmanihotis)与不同浓度重金属 (铜和镉 )的相互作用对菌根侵染率、孢子数、根际微生物数量和磷酸酶活性的影响 .在不同浓度的铜和镉中 ,G .caledonium的侵染率均最高 ,且随重金属浓度的增加而变化较小 ,而它的孢子数在这 3种接种处理中最低 .低量的铜 (0 .0 5mg/kg)可显著地减少不接种、接种A .laevis和G .manihotis的细菌数量 ,却能显著地增加接种处理的真菌数量 .当溶液中铜的浓度大于 0 .2mg/kg时 ,接种处理的真菌数量小于不接种处理的真菌数量 .铜或镉的浓度不同时放线菌数量均有接种远大于不接种 ,其中接种之间放线菌数量相差不大 ,且随重金属浓度增大而变化较小 .无论是不同浓度的铜还是不同浓度的镉的接种处理常有利于增加磷酸酶活性 .重金属浓度低时 ,细菌和真菌数量、磷酸酶活性变化较大 ,高浓度时变化较小 .图 7参 15     

接种丛枝菌根真菌(Glomus mosseae)对旱稻吸收砷及土壤砷形态变化的影响

采用接种和不接种菌根真菌(Glomus mosseae)两种模式,研究了菌根真菌对旱稻中砷积累的影响。结果表明接种菌根真菌能够明显提高旱稻地上部磷的含量(对照0.84g·kg-1,接种2.23g·kg-1)和地下部(对照0.76g·kg-1,接种1.04g·kg-1)对磷的吸收;降低地上部(对照2.40mg·kg-1,接种0.69mg·kg-1)和地下部(对照8.90mg·kg-1,接种4.87mg·kg-1)中砷的积累;提高磷从地下部向地上部的转运能力,从而有效抑制了砷从地下部到地上部的传输。进一步研究发现,菌根真菌还可以降低土壤溶液中AsIII和总砷含量,即菌根真菌能够降低水稻可获得的砷含量,从而减少砷对人体健康的威胁。     

不同磷效率基因型小麦对VAM真菌依赖性的影响因子及机理

以高、中、低效３ 个磷效率基因型小麦为试材,在ｗ（Ｐ２Ｏ５） ＝２０ ｍｇｋｇ 和６０ ｍｇｋｇ 的水平下,接种或不接种两个ＶＡ菌根真菌Ｇｌｏｍｕｓ ｍｏｓｓｅａｅ 和Ｇｌｏｍｕｓｖｅｒｓｉｆｏｒｍｅ,研究了影响小麦菌根依赖性的因子及机理．结果表明,在低磷水平下,小麦菌根依赖性的大小顺序为中效＞ 低效＞ 高效;对Ｇ． ｖｅｒｓｉｆｏｒｍ 的依赖性大于对Ｇ． ｍｏｓｓｅａｅ 的依赖性;而在高磷水平下,接种菌根表现出不同程度的生长抑制作用．相关分析发现,菌根依赖性与根冠比、根长、根毛长度、根毛密度、磷利用效率之间的相关性不显著;在低磷水平下,菌根依赖性与磷效率、根吸收效率之间呈极显著的负相关,与韧皮部蔗糖运输速率之间呈显著或极显著的正相关．认为影响不同磷效率基因型小麦菌根依赖性的主要因子是根的吸收效率;菌根依赖性、磷效率和韧皮部蔗糖运输速率均受根吸收效率影响     

Effect of phosphogypsum amendment on soil physico-chemical properties, microbial load and enzyme activities

Phosphogypsum (PG) is produced as a solid waste from phosphatic fertilizer plants. The waste slurry is disposed off in settling ponds or in heaps. This solid waste is now increasingly being used as a calcium supplement in agriculture. This study reports the effectof PG amendmenton soil physico chemical properties, bacterial and fungal count and activities of soil enzymes such as invertase, cellulase and amylase over an incubation period of 28 days. The highest mean percent carbon loss (55.98%) was recorded in 15% PG amended soil followed by (55.28%) in 10% PG amended soil and the minimum (1.68%) in control soil. The highest number of bacterial colonies (47.4 CFU g(-1) soil), fungal count (17.8 CFU g(-1) soil), highest amylase activity (38.4 microg g(-1) soil hr(-1)) and cellulase activity (38.37 microg g(-1) soil hr(-1)) were recorded in 10% amended soil. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) has been recorded in the activities of amylase and cellulase over the period of incubation irrespective of amendments. Considering the bacterial and fungal growth and the activities of the three soil enzymes in the control and amended sets, it appears that 10% PG amendment is optimal for microbial growth and soil enzyme activities.     

泡囊丛枝菌根对红三叶草根际土壤磷酸酶活性的影响

以三叶草为材料，利用三室隔网培养方法，研究了缺磷土壤上施用植酸时接种３种泡囊丛枝菌根真菌（Ｇｌｏｍｕｓ ｍｏｓｓｅａｅ，Ｇｌｍｏｕｓ ｖｅｒｓｉｆｏｒｍｅ，Ｇｉｇａｓｐｏｒａ ｍａｒｇａｒｉｔａ）对根际土壤酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶活性的影响。三叶草生长６０ｄ后，收获测定距根表不同距离土壤中的磷酸酶活性，结果表明，接种菌根真菌增加了根际土壤酸性和碱性磷酸酶活性，Ｇｉｇａｓｐｏｒａ ｍａｒｇａｒｉｔａ菌     

Degradation of benzo[a]pyrene in soil with arbuscular mycorrhizal alfalfa

Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was grown in pots containing soil artificially contaminated with various levels of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) (0, 1, 10 and 100 mg kg(-1)). Soil and plants were sampled after 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 days and compared with unlanted pots. The percentage of mycorrhizal root length colonized by Glomus caledoniun was not significantly affected by the addition of B[a]P up to 10 mg kg(-1) but was significantly lower at 100 mg kg(-1)B[a]P compared with low concentrations (p < 0.05). There was no difference in soil polyphenol oxidase and dehydrogenase activity among the controls and applications of 1 and 10 mg kg(-1) of B[a]P. However, enzyme activities were significantly higher at 100 mg kg(-1) B[a]P compared with the other three treatments, and there was no mycorrhizal effect. Over a period of 90 days the concentration of B[a]P in soil in which alfalfa was grown was significantly lower than in unplanted soil (p < 0.05). Degradation rates of B[a]P added at 1, 10 and 100 mg kg(-1) without G. caledonium were 76, 78 and 53%, and with mycorrhizal inoculation were 86, 87 and 57%. The degradation rate in unplanted soil was significantly lower than in planted soil, and was significantly higher in medium- and low-B[a]P treatments than in the high B[a]P concentration tested. There is a possibility of enhancement phytoremediation of PAHs in rhizosphere soil with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.     

Disrupting mycorrhizal mutualisms: a potential mechanism by which exotic tamarisk outcompetes native cottonwoods

The disruption of mutualisms between plants and mycorrhizal fungi is a potentially powerful mechanism by which invasives can negatively impact native species, yet our understanding of this mechanism's role in exotic species invasion is still in its infancy. Here, we provide several lines of evidence indicating that invasive tamarisk (Tamarix sp.) negatively affects native cottonwoods (Populus fremontii) by disrupting their associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. At a field site in the early stages of tamarisk invasion, cottonwoods with tamarisk neighbors had reduced EM colonization and altered EM fungal community composition relative to cottonwoods with native neighbors, leading to reductions in EM propagule abundance in the soil beneath tamarisk. Similarly, AM colonization of cottonwoods was reduced with a tamarisk neighbor, but there were no significant changes in AM fungal spore communities or propagule abundance. Root colonization by nonmycorrhizal fungi, including potential pathogens, was higher in cottonwoods with tamarisk neighbors. A greenhouse experiment in which AM and EM inoculation and plant neighbor were manipulated in a fully factorial design showed that cottonwoods benefited from mycorrhizas, especially EM, in terms of shoot biomass when grown with a conspecific, but shoot biomass was similar to that of nonmycorrhizal controls when cottonwoods were grown with a tamarisk neighbor. These results are partially explained by a reduction in EM but not AM colonization of cottonwoods by a tamarisk neighbor. Tamarisk neighbors negatively affected cottonwood specific leaf area, but not chlorophyll content, in the field. To pinpoint a mechanism for these changes, we measured soil chemistry in the field and the growth response of an EM fungus (Hebeloma crustuliniforme) to salt-amended media in the laboratory. Tamarisk increased both NO3- concentrations and electrical conductivity 2.5-fold beneath neighboring cottonwoods in the field. Salt-amended media did not affect the growth of H. crustuliniforme. Our findings demonstrate that a nonnative species, even in the early stages of invasion, can negatively affect a native species by disrupting its mycorrhizal symbioses. Some of these changes in mycorrhizal fungal communities may remain as legacy effects of invasives, even after their removal, and should be considered in management and restoration efforts.     

蜂窝煤灰渣和磷肥结合修复铅污染贫磷潮土的研究（Remediation of Lead Polluted Chaotu Soil with Low Phosphorus Availability by Application of Honeycomb Briquette Combustion Residue and Phosphorus Fertilizer）

利用蜂窝煤灰渣和磷肥结合稳定铅污染贫磷(Olsen-P=2.50mg·kg-1)潮土中铅的可行性.采用盆栽试验,设置0和500mg·kg-1两个Pb用量,灰渣用量分别为干土质量的0%和2%,P:Pb分别为0和4.种植黑麦草,植物生长85d后收获,测定植物产量、土壤DTPA-Pb、Olsen-P含量、pH值和电导率(EC).结果表明,在两个Pb用量及两个P:Pb比例下,加入灰渣后,土壤的DTPA-Pb含量均降低,平均降低5.61%.其中加铅未加磷处理灰渣效果达到0.05的显著水平,各加Pb处理中,同时加入磷肥和灰渣处理土壤的DTPA-Pb含量最低;加入灰渣后处理土壤中的Olsen-P含量均增加,平均增加了2.71mg·kg-1,各处理土壤pH值上升约0.1个单位,加入灰渣也导致各处理土壤的EC增加.各处理条件下加入灰渣后植物产量均减小.在未加磷土壤中加入Pb后,土壤Olsen-P含量显著增加(p<0.05),表明高铅有效性下,植物可能通过根系分泌物增加了土壤磷的有效性.以上结果表明,蜂窝煤灰渣有可能用于降低污染土壤中铅的有效性,但其对植物生长的抑制作用需要克服.     

Effect of sulphur and phosphorus on yield, quality and nutrient status of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of Sulphur(S) and Phosphorus (P) on yield, nutrient status of soil and their contents in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) during the year 2008-2009. Seven treatments were studied in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The treatment combinations were derived from three levels of sulphur (0, 20 and 40 kg S ha(-1)) and four levels of phosphorus (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg ha(-1)). The experimental soil was medium black, slightly calcareous, clay in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The results indicated a significant increase in grain yield (14.81 q ha(-1)) and straw yield (41.26 q ha(-1)) of pigeonpea after 20 kg S ha(-1) and 50 kg P2O5 ha(-1) treatment with common dose of nitrogen @ 30 kg ha(-1). The increase in grain and straw yield was 102.77 and 52.87% as compare to higher over control. Maximum number of pods plant(-1), maximum number of grains pod and test weight by this treatment was also observed as compared to control. Application of S and P improved soil fertility status and S alone did not influence P availability. Hence, in order to maintain the fertility status of the soil at high level, combine application of 20 kg S ha(-1) with 50 kg P2O5 ha(-1) is essential. The residual fertility status of soil is advocated for rainfed pigeonpea crop grown on vertisol in Vidarbha region.     

污泥堆肥利用中AM对稗草生长及Cu、Pb吸收的影响

在滨海盐渍土中分别混加质量分数为0%、20%、40%和60%的污泥堆肥,作为盆栽基质,研究摩西球囊霉（Glomusmosseae）和根内球囊霉（Glomus intraradices）2种AM真菌对稗草（Echinochloa crusgalli）生长及其吸收Cu、Pb的影响,分别以不接种AM真菌的处理为各自的对照。结果显示：添加污泥堆肥处理中稗草接种苗菌根侵染率均显著高于纯盐泽土处理。同时,随着盐渍土中污泥堆肥含量增加稗草生物量上升,其中在含有40%和60%污泥堆肥处理中接种AM真菌稗草的地上及地下部生物量显著高于未接种苗。接种AM真菌显著提高了稗草Cu、Pb富集总量;接种AM真菌显著提高了稗草地下部Cu富集量,却降低了地下部Pb累积量,提高了Pb向地上部的转运,增加了地上部Pb累积量。这些结果表明污泥堆肥中接种AM真菌可以促进稗草的生长和提高对重金属Cu、Pb的富集能力。     

Mycorrhizal species differentially alter plant growth and response to herbivory

Plants simultaneously interact with multiple organisms which can both positively and negatively affect their growth. Herbivores can reduce plant growth through loss of plant biomass and photosynthetic area, while plant mutualists, such as mycorrhizal fungi, can increase plant growth through uptake of essential nutrients. This is the first study examining whether species-specific associations with mycorrhizal fungi alter plant tolerance to herbivory. We grew Plantago lanceolata plants with three species of mycorrhizal fungi previously shown to have differential impacts on plant growth and subjected them to herbivory by the specialist lepidopteran herbivore, Junonia coenia. Association with mycorrhizal fungus Glomus white provided the greatest growth benefit but did not alter plant response to herbivory. Alternatively, association with Archaeospora trappei provided less growth promotion but did lead to tolerance to herbivory in the form of an increased growth rate. Finally, an association with the fungus Scutellospora calospora led to neither plant growth promotion nor tolerance to herbivory. In fact, an association with S. calospora appeared to reduce plant tolerance to herbivory. An association with all three species of mycorrhizae resulted in a pattern of growth similar to that of plants grown only with Glomus white, suggesting that growth promotion by multiple mycorrhizal species is driven by the inclusion of a "super fungus," in this case, Glomus white. This work illustrates that plant response to herbivory depends upon the mycorrhizal fungal mutualist with which a plant is associated.     

Role of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on rock phosphate solubility and growth of aerobic rice

Use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) as inoculants has concurrently increased phosphorous uptake in plants and improved yields in several crop species. The ability of PSB to improve growth of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) through enhanced phosphorus (P) uptake from Christmas island rock phosphate (RP) was studied in glasshouse experiments. Two isolated PSB strains; Bacillus spp. PSB9 and PSB16, were evaluated with RP treatments at 0, 30 and 60 kg ha(-1). Surface sterilized seeds of aerobic rice were planted in plastic pots containing 3 kg soil and the effect of treatments incorporated at planting were observed over 60 days of growth. The isolated PSB strains (PSB9 and PSB16) solubilized significantly high amounts of P (20.05-24.08 mg kg(-1)) compared to non-inoculated (19-23.10 mg kg(-1)) treatments. Significantly higher P solubilization (24.08 mg kg(-1)) and plant P uptake (5.31 mg plant(-1)) was observed with the PSB16 strain at the highest P level of 60 kg ha(-1). The higher amounts of soluble P in the soil solution increased P uptake in plants and resulted in higher plant biomass (21.48 g plant(-1)). PSB strains also increased plant height (80 cm) and improved root morphology in aerobic rice. The results showed that inoculation of aerobic rice with PSB improved phosphate solubilizing activity of incorporated RP.     

Studies of VA-Mycorrhizal fungi associated with some weed plants in sugar mill effluent soils

This study is to isolate the effluent strain of VAM fungi from polluted soils of sugar mill effluents. Analysis showed that pH and EC was more but the organic matter is less when compared to non-polluted soils. Even though there was low P content that enhances the mycorrhizal infection, the percent of root colonization was less than 75% in polluted study site. The number of VAM propagules and its distribution were also greatly affected due to various factors. Nine different VAM species were isolated and identified from the polluted study site. Using Allium cepa L. as the host plant the efficiency of the native effluent tolerant strains of VAM fungi isolated from the polluted study site was determined. Highest growth rate, high dry weight of gram per plant and increased growth was observed in the order of Glomus intraradices followed by Gigaspora margarita and Glomus fasciculatum. Consequence of the study clearly showed that Glomus intraradices was the efficient strain in sugar mill effluent polluted areas.     

磷肥和黑麦草结合修复铅污染贫磷潮土的研究（Remediation of Lead Polluted Chaotu Soil with Low Phosphorus Availability by Phosphorus Fertilizer Amendment and Ryegrass）

在Pb污染土壤中施用磷肥是降低Pb有效性的有效方法.在低磷或高Pb胁迫下,植物根际的一系列变化将促进植物对磷的吸收或对Pb毒性的降低,但低磷胁迫下植物对土壤Pb有效性的影响研究不多.为探讨Pb污染低磷土壤上施用磷肥对Pb有效性、植物吸收Pb的影响及黑麦草(LoliumperenneL.)对土壤Pb有效性的影响,设置0、500和1000mg·kg-13个Pb用量和0、2729mg·kg-1两个普通过磷酸钙磷肥用量,种植黑麦草,0和1000mg·kg-1Pb下设置不种植植物的对照的盆栽试验,植物生长48d后收获,测定植物地上部和根系产量、长度、Pb浓度及土壤DTPA-Pb含量.结果表明,施用磷肥后植物产量和地上部长度增加、根冠比、根系长度和Pb浓度减小,500mg·kg-1Pb用量时,未施用磷肥和施用磷肥时植物产量分别为0.37和1.70g·pot-1,1000mg·kg-1Pb用量时这两个数值分别为0.24和1.50g·pot-1,500mg·kg-1Pb用量时,植物产量与未施Pb处理(产量为0.75g·pot-1)差异显著(p<0.05);施用磷肥后,地上部吸收的Pb的比例和植物体吸收的Pb数量均增加.1000mg·kg-1Pb用量下,植物产量、地上部长度均小于500mg·kg-1Pb用量处理时的水平,而土壤DTPA-Pb浓度、植物Pb浓度、Pb吸收量均大于500mg·kg-1Pb处理,表明2729mg·kg-1普通过磷酸钙用量并不能完全抵消1000mg·kg-1Pb对植物生长的抑制作用.施用磷肥降低了土壤DTPA-Pb含量,但500mg·kg-1Pb用量时降低效果不显著(p>0.05).0mg·kg-1Pb用量下,种植植物的处理土壤DTPA-Pb含量比未种植植物处理高54.3%;1000mg·kg-1Pb处理时,种植植物处理土壤DTPA-Pb含量比未种植植物平均低18.5%.以上结果表明,在0mg·kg-1Pb用量下,植物生长受到了一定程度的磷胁迫.在磷胁迫下,种植植物提高了土壤Pb有效性,而在1000mg·kg-1Pb用量下,不管是否施用磷肥,种植植物均降低了土壤Pb有效性.本研究结果表明,在低磷和高Pb胁迫下,施用水溶性磷肥可降低土壤Pb有效性,促进黑麦草生长,促进Pb向植物地上部转移;在低磷胁迫且无Pb污染条件下,黑麦草对土壤Pb的有效性表现为促进;在高Pb胁迫下,不管是否施用磷肥,黑麦草均可降低土壤Pb有效性.     

Studies on mycorrhizal inoculation on dry matter yield and root colonization of some medicinal plants grown in stress and forest soils

Five medicinal plants viz. Abelmoschatus moschatus Linn., Clitoria tematea L., Plumbagozeylanica L., Psorolea corylifolia L. and Withania sominifera L. were grown in a polypot experiment in five soils representing coal mine soil, coppermine soil, fly ash, skeletal soil and forest soil with and without mycorrhizal inoculations in a completely randomized block design. Dry matter yield and mycorrhizal root colonization of plants varied both in uninoculated and inoculated conditions. The forest soil rendered highest dry matter due to higher yield of A. moschatus, P. zeylanica and P corylifolia while fly ash showed lowest dry matter without any inoculants. P. cematea were best in coalmine soil and W. sominifera in copper mine soil without mycorrhizal inoculation. The mycorrhiza was found to enhance the dry matter yield. This contributed minimum 0.19% to maximum up to 422.0% in different soils as compared to uninoculated plants. The mycorrhizal dependency was noticed maximum in plants grown in fly ash followed by coal mine soil, copper mine soil, skeletal soil and forest soil. The mycorrhizal response was increased maximum in W. sominifera due to survival in fly ash after inoculation followed by P corylifolia and P cematea. Percent root colonization in inoculated plant was increased minimum of 1.10 fold to maximum of 12.0 folds in comparison to un-inoculated plants . The native mycorrhiza fungi were also observed to colonize 4.0 to 32.0% roots in plants understudy. This study suggests that mycorrhizal inoculation increased the dry matter yield of medicinal plants in all soils under study. It also helps in survival of W. sominifera in fly ash.     

Diversity of root associated microorganisms of selected medicinal plants and influence of rhizomicroorganisms on the antimicrobial property of Coriandrum sativum

The total heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungus were enumerated from the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil of 50 selected locally available medicinal plants in and around Bharathiar University. In all the plants, population of microorganism were higher in the rhizosphere soil than in the non rhizosphere soil. Among the microorganisms, bacterial population was higher in number followed by fungus and actinomycetes. Of the medicinal plants, the maximum rhizosphere effect was observed in Annona squamosa and the minimum effect was seen in Eclipta alba and Cassia auriculata. Among the bacteria the dominant species was Bacillus followed by Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Corynebacterium, Micrococcus and Serratia. The Streptomyces species was found to be dominant followed by Deuteromycetes and Frankia among the actinomycetes. Among the fungal isolates Rhizopus was found to be higher in number followed by Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor and Fusarium. About 70.96% of the bacterial isolates were found to be nitrate reducers and 90.60% of the bacteria solubilised phosphate. The rhizosphere bacterial isolates were also capable of hydrolyzing starch, cellulose, casein, urea and gelatin. The isolates of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungus were also able to produce phytohormone Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The maximum IAA production was recorded by Fusarium sp (5.8 mg/l). The rhizosphere bacterial isolates showed resistance to 14 commercially used antibiotics. In an attempt to check the influence of these plant growth promoting microorganisms on the antimicrobial property of Coriandrum sativum against Escherichia coli MTCC-443 and Aeromonas hydrophila MTCC-646, the results observed was not encouraging since the inoculants did not influence the antibacterial property. However extensive and in depth study is required to find out the influence of rhizomicroorganisms on the antibacterial property of medicinal plants. The other results clearly indicated that the rhizosphere microorganisms could be exploited for its innumerable properties and active metabolites.