Impact assessment of bio-inoculants on growth of litchi [Litchi chinensis (gaertn.) sonn.] plants

Abstract

Mycorrhizal fungi are known to establish a strong mutualistic and symbiotic relationship with the roots of litchi plants to the extent of mycorrhizal dependency. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to provide better sustenance to the plants even in adverse conditions by enhancing the mobility of ions/nutrients from the depletion zone of the soil; moreover, dual inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense exerts a synergistic effect on plant growth. The present investigation has been carried out with an aim to develop a bio-inoculant package to obtain better growth of four varieties of litchi plants, Desi, China, Shahi, and Purbi, commonly grown in this region. The effect of bio-inoculants with vermicompost was evaluated on the growth of litchi plants. In a comparative evaluation of the results, the marcots treated with indigenous AMF and A. Brasilense with equal doses of vermicompost showed best growth in all the varieties except Shahi. To correlate the treatment impact on growth and mycor-rhizal colonization, the rootlets of all the litchi varieties were screened. Percentage of root colonization ranged between 28 and 90%.