Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improves Establishment of Micropropagated Plants

Abstract

Plant tissue culture has become an important and advantageous tool for rapid propagation of several plant species. Although this technique has got several successful applications, there are still some hurdles which limits its widespread use. For instance the transplantation of plantlets developed in vitro to soil claims very little success in many cases (Pierik, 1988; Puthur et al., 1998; Subhan et al., 1998). Weak root system is one of the major hindrances in the successful establishment of the micropropagated plantlets in the field conditions. In general, mycorrhizal fungi helps in the development of a stronger root system (Ponton et al. 1990). Moreover, the conditions to which micropropagated plantlets are transferred from in vitro conditions to which they are accustomed to distinct in vivo conditions would be a kind of stress (popularly referred to as transplantation shock) to them. Some plants exhibit considerable dependence on mycorrhizae to thrive in stressed situations (Barea et al., 1993; Bethlenfalvay et al., 1987). These potentials of symbiotic association between VAM fungal species and plant roots strengthens the belief of its significance in averting the transplantation shock brought about by unfavorable environmental conditions (such as alteration in humidity and nutritional conditions). In this review efforts are made to briefly highlight on some salient features related to the increased interests in using VAM fungi in successful establishment of micropropagated plants in the soil/field conditions.