ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI (AMF) A PROMISING BIOFERTILIZER FOR SUSTAINABLE PLANT GROWTH.

Abstract

Biofertilizers are latent or living cells of effective microorganism which mobilize and the availability of plant nutrient. Their application is easy, cost effective and does not cause pollution. For sustainable developmentally for high production term basis with minimum damage to ecological and socio-economic environment. To reduced cost of agrochemicals and harm rendered by them biofertilizers are used. Sustainability in agriculture, horticulture and forestry management requires balanced functional microbial ecosystem. The association of plant roots with AM fungi is a key factor in the below ground network essential to ecosystem function. This association is known to benefit plants under conditions of nutritional and water stress and pathogen challenge. Majority of plant species depend upon AM fungal association for adequate nutrient uptake. They also help in increasing the extent of soil practical aggregation. Those plants lacking mycorrhiza can be severely stunted with low growth. Interaction of AM fungi with other microorganisms present in the soil are experimental proved. Mycorrhizal hyphae interact with soil inhabiting fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, virus, insects, nematodes and several roots borne pathogens of the various microorganism colonizing the rhizoshere. The advantage enables them to achieve a higher and more functional biomass and increases their chances of exerting a significant effect on plants and other microbial species. Interaction between VAM fungi and Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms have been extensively studied on agricultural and timber plants. The increased growth of mycorrhizal plants is favored in soils with low moderate fertility. More to specifically, soils favoring mycorrhizal growth stimulation usually have one or more essential nutrients (especially phosphorus, copper and zinc) in limiting concentrations. Higher translocation of plant nutrient to the grain in the agro-ecological areas compared with the continuous grain treatment suggests that AM and or the soil composition after physiology, possible through hormonal effect.