The potential use of arbuscular mycorrhiza in the cultivation of medicinal plants in Barak Valley, Assam: A Review

Dhritiman Chanda,G Sharma,D Jha

doi:10.12944/cwe.9.2.40

Abstract

AM fungi are widespread and are found from arctic to tropics in most agricultural and natural ecosystems. They play an important role in plant growth, health and productivity. They increase seedling tolerance to drought, high temperatures, toxic heavy metals, high or low pH and even extreme soil acidity. The cultivation of medicinal and herbal plants has assumed greater importance in recent years due to their tremendous potential in modern and traditional medicine. They are also used as raw materials for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and fragrance industries. Indian system of medicine (ISM) uses 25,000 species belonging to more than 1000 genera. About 25% species are used by the industries. The Barak Valley is the southernmost part of the Assam and consists of three districts namely Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Different tribes staying here are directly using of medicinal plants for the treatments of different ailments. Comparatively very less attention has been given for the conservation of some of these rare and endangered medicinal plants which are extensively used by the tribes of Assam. So, AM fungi can play an effective role in the conservation of some valuable medicinal plants where Glomus sp. was found to be widely used for the increase yield of important medicinal plants. This review summarizes the data from recent studies to elucidate the potential use of AM fungi for promoting growth and disease resistance in medicinal plants found in southern part of Assam, which in turn provide a natural enhancer for the commercial production of traditional drugs from various important plants.

Highlights

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal(AM) fungi interact either directly with other soil organisms or they may influence these organisms indirectly by affecting host physiology that could change root morphology, physiology and patterns of exudation into the mycorrhizosphere
Endomycorrhizal fungi are inter and intracellular and penetrate the root cortical cells and form finger like branched structures called arbuscule and vesicles to be known as vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM)
The VAM colonization and growth response of G. fasciculatum was observed in all the four medicinal plants .In the VAM inoculated plants, the percentage of VAM associations were observed significantly higher than the control one

Summary

Introduction

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal(AM) fungi interact either directly with other soil organisms or they may influence these organisms indirectly by affecting host physiology that could change root morphology, physiology and patterns of exudation into the mycorrhizosphere. The AM fungi must 1) colonize roots rapidly after inoculation, 2) absorb phosphate from the soil, 3) transfer phosphorus to the plant, 4) increase plant growth, 5) persist in soil and reestablish mycorrhizal symbiosis during the following seasons and 6) form propagules that remain viable during and after inoculum production 24. It is essential to have a proper use of AM fungi in the cultivation of medicinal plants and to develop a protocol for traditional drugs in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and fragrance industries.

Results

Conclusion