Screening of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae fungi for onion

Abstract

The effects of the application of 100% of the recommended N fertilizer rate (full N) singly or in combination with various vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizas (Glomus mosseae, Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus epigaes, Glomus deserticola, Glomus macrocarpum, Gigaspora margarita, Gigaspora calospora, Gigaspora gigantea, Endogone duseii and Acaulospora laevis) on the performance of onion (cv. Pusa Madhavi) were studied in a pot experiment. Treatments consisting of full N and P, full N and 50% of the recommended P fertilizer rate, or no N and P were used as controls. The application of mycorrhiza with full N significantly increased bulb yield and quality over full N alone. Among the mycorrhizas, E. duseii with full N resulted in the greatest number of leaves per plant (8.2), plant height (62.1 cm), yield per plot (11.1 kg) and yield per hectare (246.4 quintal/ha), and the lowest storage loss after 6 months (43.1%). The yield obtained with full N + E. duseii was comparable to that obtained with full N and P. Almost 50% of the recommended P rate could be substituted by the application of Gigaspora gigantea, Glomus macrocarpum, Glomus deserticola and Acaulospora laevis. [1 quintal=100 kg].