Assessment of the Effects of Selected AM Strain on the Growth and Yield of Brinjal

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can increase plant uptake of nutrients especially relatively immobile elements such as P, Zn and Cu and consequently, improve plant growth and yield. The study was conducted to identify native AM strains, multiply and test their effects in reduction of P fertilizer brinjal production. Rhizosphere soils and roots of and brinjal were collected from each of four AEZs, viz. AEZ-9 (RARS, Jamalpur), AEZ-11 (RARS, Jashore), AEZ-25 (ARS, Bogura) and AEZ-28 (BARI, Joydebpur) in 2014-2015. Characterization and identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal strains was studied in the microbiology laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Nine AM strains such as Glomus geosporum, G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum, Acaulospora dilatata, A. mellea, A. morrowiae, Entrophospora infrequens, Sclerocystis coremioides and Gigaspora margarita were identified in brinjal. The collected mycorrhizal strains were maintained with trap crop sorghum under net house condition in 2014-2015 onwards. The best performing AM strain (Glomus mosseae) was selected from pot experiments at greenhouse of BARI. The sandy clay loam soil was used as the potting media. Nine each AM strains each from brinjal were tested with corresponding crops. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was followed with four replications. Dry matter yield (both root and shoot), some vegetative parameter, % root colonization and number of spores were observed. Finally the efficiency of the selected mycorrhiza, Glomus mosseae was tested under field condition during 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Factorial RCBD was followed for field experiments with eight treatments and four replications. Selected soil-based AM inoculum (Glomus mosseae) that preserved in sorghum culture were used in seedbed of respective crops. Many morphological parameters and yield attributes were found as highest from 75% P. The highest crop yield was found from 75% P+AM, which was statistically similar to 100% P-AM indicating the possibility of saving 25% P in these three crops in AEZ 28 of Bangladesh. It was observed that Glomus mosseae could save 25% P in brinjal cultivation.