Vesicular-arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Research Articles

Fumigation Effect on the Mycorrhizal Status, the Mycorrhizal Diversity and the Roots System Development of Strawberry in Morocco

This study was undertaken to evaluate the fumigation effect on the mycorrhization status of strawberry roots, the diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of strawberry and the roots system development of strawberry. Two parcels were taken randomly in the perimeter of Loukkos with fumigated one. For each parcel, samples of strawberry’s rhizosphere soil were taken regularly all over the cycle of culture. The mycorrhization parameters (mycorrhizal frequency, mycorrhizal intensity, arbuscular content, vesicular content and spores number) were calculated using Phillips and Hayman technique according to the scale of Trouvelot. An identification of spores was made according to the key International culture collection of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM). The frequency of the apparition of genera and species of spores at the sites were calculated. The roots system development was evaluated with the visual analogical scale (VAS: 0-100 mm). All the parameters were compared between the two parcels. Results showed that Mycorrhizal frequency, the number of spores and the roots system development between fumigated soil and non-fumigated one were respectively ((99.3 ± 2.8 vs. 100); (69 ± 12.3 vs. 137.5 ± 47.8); (23.8 ± 9.6 vs. 63.1 ± 21.6)). Six genera with nine species were identified and three undefined. Glomus genera were the dominant. In multivariate analysis, the roots system development was dependant to the fumigation status (yes/no), the vesicular content and the mycorrhization frequency. The roots system development was dependant to the fumigation status (yes/no) and spores number. As conclusion, this study suggests that the fumigation has a significant effect on the mycorrhization colonisation of roots, diversity of AMF and roots system development of strawberry.

Effect of Organic and Bio-Fertilization on Fruit Yield, Bioactive Constituents, and Estragole Content in Fennel Fruits

Fennel fruits (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) represent one of the plant-based natural spices. This study aims to improve the fruit yield and essential oil (EO) quality by reducing the undesirable component, estragole, under different fertilizer treatments. The fertilizers included chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), and also the organic additive, rabbit manure (RM). For bio-fertilization, plants were inoculated with a mixture of N-fixing bacteria, and P- and K-solubilizing bacteria with/without vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The results showed that fruit and EO yield parameters, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH scavenging activity of fruit extracts were enhanced by fertilizer treatments in both growing seasons. NPK at 150% of the recommended dose (NPK150) and RM at 60 m3/fed (RM60) recorded the highest values of plant height, umbel number/plant, 100-fruit weight, fruit yield, chlorophyll, carbohydrates, N and P content, EO content, and yield. TPC and TFC were enhanced by using biological fertilizers. DPPH scavenging activity was higher in organically and biologically fertilized fennel. The GC-MS analyses of EO revealed higher contents of the desirable trans-anethole in the organically and chemically fertilized fennel. However, the highest proportion of estragole, the undesirable compound, was recorded for NPK150 and unfertilized plants. On the contrary, increases in the EO content and yield of fennel fruits were achieved by RM along with a reduction in estragole, enhancement in trans-anethole, and increments in other favorable compounds such as fenchone and limonene. In addition, the inhibition of estragole formation was recorded with bio-fertilizers, which also increased the trans-anethole content. Furthermore, the trans-anethole/estragole ratio was significantly higher with the application of organic and bio-fertilization. Hence, organic and bio-fertilizer resources can produce high-quality fennel fruit and EO. The reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers can help to reduce environmental pollution.

Marginal lands as an important potential to produce biohydrogen

One of the promising approaches for hydrogen production is agricultural biomass crops conversion, which is a renewable-based clean and abundant resource. The main objective of the current study is to assess the contribution of soil beneficial microbes in improving salt tolerance along with the evaluation of possible hydrogen production from sorghum plant biomass. High salinity concentrations in soil stimulate plant roots to enhance the plant desire for symbiosis and association with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM). Among the VAM species, G.mosseae is one of the significant and effective VAM species, which contribute to plant salinity resistance by expanding leaf salt potential and accumulating nutrients leaves in comparison to other soil microorganisms in plants. Morphological characters of these plants show a higher biomass production during saline conditions up to 2000 kg/ha. Biomass production in the specific alternative thermochemical and biological processes are suggested and finally, gasification processes were chosen as the optimal method which can be practically applied to produce hydrogen from sorghum plants. By producing 10,000 kg biomass in three harvesting periods of Sorghum, almost 3000 kg biomass for bio-hydrogen production can be obtained. This could be an appropriate resource for obtaining biofuels, particularly bio-hydrogen from 3 million hectares of unbearable or poor quality lands in a country such as Turkey by producing 9 million tons of Hydrogen. Obtained data gives an overview of these technologies for hydrogen production from biomass yielding to 28.2 gH2/100 g biomass or 33.17 to 44.26 (gH2). Producing green hydrogen from plants biomass is relatively cheaper, compared to chemo-industrial methods. Achieving the immobilization factors in bioprocesses for microorganisms is obtained in this study. Consequently, hydrogen productivity of the bioprocess can be enhanced by using porous support materials which provide high biomass holding capacity and help better gas retrieve in the process.

Abundance and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal gungal (AMF) spores isolated from the rhizosphere of papaya and other different cropping systems in Central Kenya

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), obligate symbionts, are important in the majority of cultivated plant species in colonizing roots and supporting plant growth in adverse climatic conditions. However, the abundance and quality of mycorrhizal colonization is affected by land-use types, cropping systems and climate change. On the other hand, rhizospheric mycorrhizae present in rhizospheric soils can be isolated for enhancing plant performance. One such opportunity arises in the acclimatization of seedlings for adaptation to depleted field conditions. Isolation and characterization of rhizospheric AMF species is important in evaluating the efficiency of colonization especially in plants that have not been previously evaluated such as papaya, which is well known for its high nutritive value. In this study, soils were sampled from grass, banana and papaya plants’rhizosphere, from three different papaya growing regions in Kenya; Mwea, Mitunguu and Juja. Spores were isolated using the sucrose method. Spore abundance was done using a gridded Petri dish and morphologically characterized using the International Culture Collection of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM) database. At least 4 families, 10 genera and 41 species of glomeromycota phylum were isolated from the 3 sampling sites. The families of glomeraceae (16 species) and acaulosporaceae (14 species) dominated in Juja and Mwea Sub Counties. Glomus spp. isolated from the rhizosphere of banana and grass plants were the most abundant, at p≤0.05, in Juja while Diversispora spp (diversisporaceae) was the least abundant, at p≤0.05. Mwea Sub County had the most spore abundance, at p≤0.05, compared to Mitunguu and Juja. Mycorrhizal spores isolated from the grass family were the most abundant, at p≤0.05, (Mwea, 41; Juja, 37; Mitunguu, 35.2) as opposed to banana and papaya plants. The results showed that AMF spore abundance and diversity varies with different locations and the associating plants.

The Role of Indigenous Mycorrhizae of Corn Plants in Various Soil Types in Gunung Kidul, Indonesia

Indigenous Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) are natural mycorrhizae from specific areas that have good environmental adaptability. This study, conducted from January to November 2020 at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, aimed to isolate the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus so that it can be used as information on the type and role of VAM on Gunung Kidul soil. The research was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three factors. The first factor was soil type from Gunung Kidul Regency (Inceptisol, Mollisol, and Alfisol), the second factor was sterilization (sterilized soil and unsterilized soil), and the third factor was corn variety (local and hybrid). Analysis of soil and plant growth was performed by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (Tukey's HSD) Test. Genetic detection of root infecting VAM was performed by using Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) method with FAM AML1-AML2 labeled primers. The VAM detected in the roots of hybrid variety included Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp., and Septoglomus sp., and those in the roots of local variety were Acaulospora sp., Gigaspora sp., and Funelisformis sp. The results showed that the role of VAM could be seen through unsterilized soil so that there was no VAM elimination in the soil. Unsterilized soil showed the best results of root infection, leaf fresh and dry weight, leaf phosphor (P) content, and leaf P uptake. Meanwhile, Alfisol showed the best result of root infection, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf P content, and leaf P uptake. The treatment of plant varieties showed that the varieties did not significantly affect the root infection, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf P content, and leaf P uptake.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza: isolation, characterization and evaluation of plant growth promoting properties

In the present study, potent Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal (AMF) spores were isolated by wet sieving and decanting method from the soil samples. The International Culture Collection of (Vesicular) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (INVAM) worksheet was used for the characterization of the isolated spores. Finally, for evaluation of PGP activities, Petri plate assay followed by pot assay was used. Three AMF spores were characterized as Glomus fasciculatum, Scutellospora spp. and Acaulospora appendicular, out of which Glomus fasciculatum was used for evaluation of its effect on growth and development of wheat plant. In pot assay under normal condition, plants inoculated with AMF in non-sterile and sterile soil showed significant increase in root (14.07cm, 15.85cm) and shoot (18.72cm, 24.2cm) length respectively compared with control plant. In normal condition, highest contents of chlorophyll a (57.12mg/gm), b (20.14mg/gm) and total chlorophyll (78.45mg/gm) were observed in sterile soil inoculated with seed. Study also showed that AMF has notable effect on micro and macro nutrient content of the pot soil. In normal condition AMF inoculated non-sterile and sterile soil showed increase in N (148.72kg/ha and 150.54kg/ha) and K (145.95kg/ha and 149.78kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.01kg/ha and31.17kg/ha) was observed as compared with control and under saline soil condition, non-sterile and sterile soil also show increase in N (147.54kg/ha and 149.54kg/ha) and K (141.78kg/ha and 150.38kg/ha) while decrease in P (34.07kg/ha and 33.02kg/ha) was observed as compared with control.

EFFECT OF VESICULAR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA (VAM) INOCULANTS ON GROWTH OF TOMATO

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic association with roots of most terrestrial plants including many agricultural crops. These are known to occur globally in a broad range of dissimilar environments from arctic to tropic and occupy a wide range of ecological niches. The role of VAM fungi in the improvement of crop plants is well documented. VAM fungi are known to improve the nutrient status of the plants, increase growth and development, protect plants against pathogens and confer resistance to drought and salinity. Sustainable agriculture has become a serious issue due to the energy crisis and environmental issues. Therefore, agricultural production is aimed to produce maximum output with minimum input. During agricultural production it is necessary to use organic fertilizers rather than chemical fertilizers. In the present study, authors assessed the efficacy of inoculants of three species of VAM fungi singly and in combination, on growth of tomato.

Diversity of vam in soils used to cultivate sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in Tabasco, Mexico

E Objective: A study was carried out in the Ingenio Santa Rosalía sugar mill supply area with the aim of identifying the soil subunits cultivated with sugar cane and to quantify the degree of mycorrhization of Saccharum officinarum. Design/Methodology/Approach: Rhizosphere samples were collected at a depth of 0-30 cm and root segments with diameters of ≤ 1 mm and 1-2.0 mm were studied. The intersect method and the fungal structures method were comparatively analyzed to determine the mycotrophic state of the roots. The study also quantified the number of spores in the soils and classified the morpho-species of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM). Results: The results show that seven soil subunits exist in the area, but the intersect method did not detect differences in colonization by root diameter or by root colonization ( = 68.5%). For its part, the fungal structures method showed differences in colonization between soil subunits ( = 69.5%), being higher in thin roots, and statistical differences wer found for vesicles and spores. At the sites, an average of 696 spores was quantified per 100 g of soil, which indicates a high presence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the study area. Finally, six species of mycorrhizae were identified, of which four are present in various soil subunits: Glomus aff. deserticola, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus viscosum, and Paraglomus occultum. Study Limitations/Implications: This was an exploratory study that indicates the potential of VAM. Findings/Conclusions: The presence of hyphae, vesicles, arbuscules, and spores indicates that there is an active mycotrophic process between VAM and sugarcane cultivation in the soils of the study area.

Applications of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Sustainable Agriculture in Jordan

The beneficial vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are found in the rhizosphere of many plants. These fungi are promising for sustainable agriculture especially in poor soils and under stress conditions. Many genera were naturally found in Jordan soils, especially Glomus, and were significantly effective in improving plant growth of several vegetable crops whether they were growing under mineral deficiency or drought conditions. Also, many soil-borne fungi as Fusarium, Verticillium, and Rhizoctonia as well as root-knot nematodes were successfully controlled under Jordan’s conditions. This type of biological control has a lower cost impact, safe and environment friendly.

Microscopic and Metagenomic Evidence for Eukaryotic Microorganisms Associated with Atacama Desert Populations of Giant Equisetum

Understanding features that fostered the persistence of Equisetum–Earth's oldest extant vascular plant genus–since Mesozoic times and through episodes of significant global environmental change, is of current interest in view of modern challenges to plant survival. In addition to known structural and physiological adaptations, we hypothesized that microscopy and shotgun metagenomic sequencing might reveal eukaryotic microorganisms such as fungi that may aid Equisetum survival. Here, we report evidence for several lineages of eukaryotic microbes associated with giant Equisetum xylochaetum, which dominates vegetation in saline streambeds of remote valleys in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert, Chile. Plant material was collected and field-preserved at two comparatively low-disturbance sites; DNA extracted in Chile using low-shear methods was later sequenced, 18S and 28S rDNA taxonomic marker sequences were selected for SILVAngs classification, allowing comparisons to eukaryotic microorganisms previously inferred for earlier-diverging plant lineages. SEM, fluorescence microscopy, and/or LM of toluidine blue-stained sections of roots indicated protists, epiphytic and endophytic fungi, and cortical nematodes. Eukaryotic genera inferred from 18S rDNA at >100X mean sequencing depth included the ciliate Engelmanniella, hyphal chytrid Monoblepharella, predatory ascomycete Cephaliophora, a salpingoecid choanoflagellate, and an annelid worm. 23S rDNA sequences indicated ascomycete Capnodiales fungi at one site and four types of Pezizomycotina fungi at the other. No evidence for vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was found, but we hypothesized that Equisetum may benefit from other types of fungal associations, some possibly inherited from ancestral plant lineages.

Potensi Mikoriza Vesikular Arbuskular (MVA) sebagai Biofertilizer pada Tanaman Jagung (Zea mays)

Mining activities can cause environmental damage, and needs land rehabilitation efforts. One approach to land rehabilitation after mine is with repairing the ecosystem condition by improving the quality of the soil, with increase fertility and enriching soil nutrient content by providing a biofertilizer from microbe, such as mycorrhizal fungi. This study aims to determine the potential use of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (MVA) as a biofertilizer by examining the effect of MVA on the growth of corn plant (Zea Mays). Applicated indigenus MVA was able to increase the absorption of phosphorus (P) nutrients in the soil by corn plant so it had an effect on increasing the height and diameter of the corn plant stalks. MVA has the potential as a basic material for making biofertilizer, so it can be used to improve soil quality and environment in ex-limestone mining areas.

Revegetation of Critical Land with Gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis) under Various Ameliorants Application

Rehabilitation of post-mining limestone soils is often a challenge due to a lack of nutrients and poor soil humus. The research aims to study the effect of various ameliorants on soil chemical properties, growth, and P uptake of gaharu plant (Aquilaria malaccensis) in post-mining limestone soil for revegetation of critical land. The research was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The treatments were P0 (Control, without ameliorant); P1 (Humic Acid, HA, 4 kg ha-1 ); P2 (Phosphate Rocks, PR, 350 kg ha-1 ); P3 (Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, AMF, 500 spores plant-1 ); P4 (HA+AMF); P5 (PR+AMF); and P6 (HA+PR+AMF). Data were analyzed using ANOVA at 95% confidence level and continued with the LSD test. The use of various types of ameliorants (HA, RP, and AMF) significantly increased root length, root volume, wet and dry weight of roots, shoot wet and dry weight, and P uptake of gaharu tree. The best ameliorant in increasing gaharu tree growth was AMF (P3) treatment, and AMF combined with HA (P4) treatment. Thus, for revegetation of critical land, especially post-mining limestone land, using gaharu tree requires HA and AMF inoculation.

The Inoculation Effect Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Phosphate Fertilization to Increase Cherry Tomato Production

One of phosphate (P) fertilizer i.e. SP-36 is expensive and can be obtained by rock phosphate(RP). Rock phosphate combined with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungus (VAM) could increaseP availability. VAM consists of many species, so it is necessary to test the role of VAM species oncherry tomato plant. This study aims to examine the effect of VAM species and phosphate fertilizationto improve cherry tomato production. The research use a Completely Randomized Design (CRD)which consisted of two factors with three replications. The first factor is the phosphate fertilization (P0=without P fertilizer, P1= SP-36, P2= rock phosphate) and the second factor is VAM species (M0=control without mycorrhizae, M1= Glomus etunicatum, M2= Glomus fasciculatum, M3= doubleinoculation of G. etunicatum and G. fasciculatum). The results show that mycorrhizae inoculationincreases plant height, fruit number, fruit weight and accelerates flowering age compared to withoutinoculation. BP fertilization increases fruit weight. BP+CMA produces number of fruit equivalent to SP36+CMA. BP+G. etunicatum treatment significantly increases fruit weight compared to SP-36+G.etunicatum. G. etunicatum inoculation gives the highest fruit weight compared to other inoculation.

Diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rhizosphere of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in Southwest Nigeria

Diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rhizosphere of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in Southwest Nigeria

A Study on Root Colonization of Medicinal Plants with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract The present study deals with the root colonization of medicinal plants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. Mycorrhiza is defined as a mutualistic association between the fungi and plant roots. The plant materials used for the study were collected from the premises of St. Dominic’s College, Kanjirappally, Kottayam district of Kerala. The collected specimens were chemically treated and observed under microscope. The result of the study confirmed that the VAM fungi produce various structures within the roots. It was also noted that the root colonization percentage varied between 50 and 80% within the selected plants. Keywords: Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, root colonization, arbuscules, vesicles Cite this Article Nooruddeen Jabbar, Sallykutty Thomas. A Study on Root Colonization of Medicinal Plants with Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Research & Reviews: Journal of Botany . 2020; 9(1): 1–8p.

Significance of va mycorrhiza and its response under varied soil conditions: An overview

One third of the land area of the world is dominated by arid and semi-arid climates and additionally human interference with the terrestrial ecosystem aiming at development and subsequent exploitation for increased agricultural production are many times responsible for stressed soil conditions. In India, about 20 million hectares of land is affected by salinity. Reclamation of such stressed and saline soil can possibly be done by aid of VAM/AM fungi. Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) are ubiquitous in their distribution. These are abundantly associated with nearly 80% of all terrestrial plant species in the form of symbiotic endomycorrhiza. Mycorrhizal association with the plants can help in restoration of the soil and make it arable.

Mixtures of Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Growth of Lactuca Sativa and Reduce Levels of Zinc in Contaminated Soil

Bioremediation is currently under investigation as a viable way to remove many environmental pollutants and most commonly involves the use of microorganisms to extract organic pollutants or heavy metals from water or soil. One of the most abundant heavy metals found in industrially polluted sites is zinc (Zn); it is often found alongside metals like lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). This experiment investigated the potential bioremediation of pasteurized soil contaminated with zinc using different vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM) species and lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa). Soil was amended with 0.4 g of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) per kg of soil. Amended and unamended soils were inoculated with two different mixes of VAM, BioAg VAM-Endo™ and MycoBloom. For each treatment, L. sativa plants (15 pots per treatment) were grown in a greenhouse setting. Plant diameter was measured weekly. Plants were harvested after 55-days and the wet weight of leaf tissue was measured before the tissue was sent for analysis of zinc levels. Roots were assessed for mycorrhizae using a trypan blue staining procedure. The BioAg VAM-Endo™ mix was the most successful at removing ZnCl2 from the soil. L. sativa inoculated with VAM mixes formed mycorrhizae, grew healthier and removed more zinc from the soil than the non-inoculated group. We propose further investigation into the use of mycorrhizal fungi paired with other plant species to remove zinc from contaminated sites with harmful levels of zinc.

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH PEPPER TEN LINES RHIZOSPHERE CHILLIES Capsicum frutescens

The peppers business is an important segment of the Brazilian agricultural market, with strong expression in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The objective of this work was to determine the mycorrhizal colonization rate, spore density and mycorrhizal fungi genotypes associated with the rhizosphere of ten lines of chilli peppers (Capsicum frutescens). The experimental design was completely randomized, with 10 treatments and 4 replicates, with the ten strains of Capsicum frutescens: IFET-1121; IFET-1109; IFET-1129; IFET-1119; IFET-1117; IFET-1137; IFET-1131; IFET-1127; IFET-1125 and IFET-1111. The spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) will be extracted from the soil using 50 cm³ of each composite sample, using the wet sieving technique. The determination of the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization occurred through the technique of intersection of the quadrants. The identification of mycorrhizal fungi species was by morphological comparison based on the descriptions of the reference cultures present in the International Culture Collection of Arbuscular and Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. The spore number and mycorrhizal colonization data will be submitted to classical statistical analysis using the Assistat program (2016). The genus Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, Scutellospora, Sclerocystis, Glomus, Funneliformis and Gigaspora associated with the rhizosphere of the Capsicum frutescens strains were identified. The genera Glomus, acaulosporand Claroideoglomuswere found in all strains analyzed. The IFET - 1127 strain presented higher spore density values when compared to the other strains studied. No significant difference was found in the values of mycorrhizal colonization rate among the investigated strains

Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and humic acid application on the growth of Parkinsonia aculeata L. seedlings

The study is aimed at investigating the influence of mycorrhizal fungus and humic acid (HA) on the growthof Parkinsonia aculeata L. seedlings. The experiments were carried out during the period from July, 1st, 2017to March, 1st 2018. The inoculation with mycorrhiza was applied to the seedlings at age of 2 months. Twotypes of soils were used in this study as follows: a) a mixture of sand, peat and perlite at the ratio of 1:1:1, byvolume, and b) clayey soil. Humic acid (HA) was applied just after seed sowing at the rate of 1g/L (200 mlpots). The obtained results showed that there were significant differences between the two soil types tested.However, the seedlings grown in clayey soil displayed the highest shoot height (SH) (47.44cm), the highestshoot dry weight (SDW) (2.40g), the highest total dry weight (TDW) (3.59g) and the highest shoot/ root ratio(SRR) (2.26). The inoculation with VAM has brought about the highest SH (34.66cm), SDW (1.76g), TDW(1.76g), P% (1.81) and N% (2.73) in the leaves. However, the highest TDW was obtained in the inoculatedseedlings treated with HA acid and grown on clayey soil (4.498g). The highest P% was obtained in theinoculated seedlings of P. aculeata grown on clayey soil and untreated with HA (3.94 P%). Therefore, it isrecommended to inoculate the seedlings with VAM to achieve the highest growth and performance as animportant nursery practice in afforestation and windbreaks program and in poor soils as well.

Potential of Sunflower to Extract Heavy Metals from Leachate

The effectiveness of sunflower to extract harmful heavy metals from landfill leachate using phytoremediation technique was studied in this paper. A case study of Phursungi garbage dump yard located in Phursungi village in Pune, India was taken for this study as the residents have to deal with contaminated water throughout the year which induces diseases like dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, and heavy metal poisoning related diseases. There are various methods in phytoremediation, among which phytoextraction was used for this study. An experiment was carried out to test the removal efficiency of BOD, COD, TS, and heavy metals namely As, Hg and Pb from the soil by sunflowers with and without the addition of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi. These fungi were used in soil to accelerate the process of extraction. Leachate diluted with 60% water was supplied such that the Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) was more than 15 days (19 days achieved). The values of contaminants were checked for permissible limits according to standards for land disposal of treated leachates given in Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSW) rules, 2016 and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India. The removal efficiency of Pb from soil was almost the same for plants supplied with VAM (67.92%) and plants without VAM (66.67%). Arsenic (As) removal efficiency was 100% for plants with and without VAM. For mercury (Hg), it was more for plants without VAM (96.29%) than plants with VAM (77.78). Thus, it was concluded that VAM was ineffective. Cd and Cr concentrations in leachate samples were observed to be within the permissible limits. Hence, they were discarded for calculation of removal efficiency.