Mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are broad-spectrum and non-specific microorganisms and they colonize 85% of terrestrial plant species including halophytes, hydrophytes and xerophytes.
AMF are also involved in physiological processes like water absorption capacity of plants by augmenting root hydraulic conductivity and favourably adjusting the osmotic balance and composition of carbohydrates
Glomus intraradices, G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum, G. etunicatum, G. versiforme, G. etunicatum are some of the common AMF spp.
Besides uptake of nutrients,AMF also produce number of plant growth-promoting substances like IAA, IBA, GA that can influence plant growth beneficially.
Mycorrhizal infection increase water transport, nutrient uptakeand mobilization of nutrientsin host plants due to increase in surface contact of roots.
Method of application:For inoculating AMF, de-husked rice seeds are surface-sterilized twice with 5% sodium hypochlorite for 15minutes and washed with sterile water thoroughly. Then seeds are allowed to germinate on petri dishes. Germinating seedlings are transplanted to 150 mL-cones containing a mix of 63.3% quartz sand, 31.6% soil, and 5% of granular inoculums at a concentration of a minimum 10 propagules per gram of granular inoculum. After 3 weeks of AMF inoculation, seedlings are transplanted in the main field.