Title

Harnessing vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal root inoculant (VAMRI) enhanced with 'third symbionts' for sustainable agriculture

Date

2013

Abstract

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) is a symbiotic association of beneficial fungus and root of higher plants. The benefits derived by the host plants from the symbiotic association through the uptake nutrients by the fungus and enhanced defense mechanism provided to the plant against soil-borne pathogen is well established. The ability of certain mycorrhizal fungal species to produce large amount of spores (vesicles) inside the roots of the host plant prompted the authors to develop a mycorrhizal root inoculant (VAMRI). This inoculant is composed of either Glomus mossea or G. fasciculatum which were chosen from among hundreds of local isolates from Philippine soil and exotic isolates from Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago Illinois, respectively. The conditions for production of high quality 'starter inoculum' under growth room conditions and mass inoculum production of high quality 'starter inoculum' under growth room conditions and mass inoculum production in 'pot culture' have been optimized. Several bacteria and fungi were found associated with VAMRI and these were considered as 'third symbionts'. These were screened for their plant growth promoting activity (PGPA) and phosphate solubilizing ability (PSA) both on in-vitro and in- vivo conditions using different methods. The isolated 'third symbionts' with highest PSA and PGPA were identified using bioMerieux sup R VITEK 2 identification system and 16S rDNA sequence analysis for the bacteria and by cultural and morphological examination for fungal symbionts. The three most effective 'third symbionts' were used to enhanced the of VAMRI inoculants. The effectiveness of the enhanced VAMRI inoculants as plant growth promoter and biopesticide has been demonstrated in various crops in different cropping systems. The synergisms among VAMRI, N fixers and legumes were also demonstrated in field conditions. Several demonstration set ups in different cropping systems were established in Regions 2, 3 and 4 to show the effectiveness of VAMRI as plant growth promoter and biocontrol agent of soil-borne diseases of plants. VAMRI technologies were successfully promoted in Regions 2, 4a and 4b. The reduction of the amount of chemical fertilizer by as much as 50% of the recommended rates to obtain the same amount of yield by applying VAMRI was effectively shown to the participants.

Book Title

Biofertilizer technologies for sustainable agriculture

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

VESICULAR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE; INOCULATION; ROOTS; SYMBIONTS; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; PESTS OF PLANTSPATHOGENS; FERTILIZER APPLICATION

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