Loading...
Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad (Telangana State)
Browse
6 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR MAPPING OF GENETIC LOCI ASSOCIATED WITH TOLERANCE TO LOW SOIL PHOSPHORUS IN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)(PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2020) KALE RAVINDRA RAMRAO; SUNDARAM, R.MRice is one of the most important cereal crops and occupies second prominent position in global agriculture. A significant proportion of rice growing soils across the world and in India is either phosphorus (P)-deficient or has a high P-fixing capacity resulting in reduced productivity levels. The basic mechanism plants follow for P utilization are P acquisition efficiency and internal P–use efficiency. Presence of genetic variability for P uptake has been reported in rice and a major QTL called Pup1 conferring tolerance to low soil P has been identified earlier. The present study was taken up in order to characterize available germplasm lines for low P tolerance and QTL mapping for low soil P tolerance in recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population developed by crossing, Wazuhophek (which has significant tolerance to low soil P condition and completely devoid of Pup1 genomic region) and Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM; Which is highly sensitive to low soil P). In the first objective, i.e. a set of 56 germplasm lines of rice were analyzed for their genotype with respect to markers spanning the Pup1 locus along with phenotypic characterization for low soil P tolerance. Significant genetic variability was observed with respect to plant height, number of productive tillers, root volume, dry root weight, dry shoot weight and grain yield under low P condition. Cluster analysis based on the stress indices and low soil P tolerance ability, grouped the genotypes into three groups, viz., highly tolerant, tolerant and sensitive. Genotyping of the rice lines with a set of Pup1 specific markers (viz., K46-1, K46-2, K52 and 46CG-1), revealed the presence of partial or complete Pup1 genomic region in most of the tolerant genotypes. A total of 15 genotypes showed tolerance to low soil P based on yield reduction in comparison to the tolerant and sensitive checks. Interestingly, the tolerant genotype line, IC216831 was observed to be completely devoid of Pup1, and hence it can be explored for identification and characterization of new loci underlying low soil P tolerance. The second objective focused on SSR marker-based molecular mapping of genomic regions associated with low soil P tolerance in the non-Pup1 type, low P tolerant rice line from North-eastern part of India, Wazuhophek. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to low soil P tolerance were identified in recombinant inbred lines (RILs), developed from cross Improved Samba Mahsuri/Wazuhophek. A total of 16 QTLs related to yield and other physio- morphological traits were identified under low soil P condition. Out of them, 10 QTLs were found on chromosome 8, spanning a 4.49 Mb region in the genomic interval of RM22554-RM8005. Two QTLs were identified on chromosome 7, spanning a 2.71 Mb (RM5847-RM22031) region and 11.31 Mb (RM21521-RM21103) region for root volume and P content of grains, respectively. Four QTLs were identified on chromosome 1, spanning a 9.2 Mb region in between the markersWR1.7-RM8105. In silico analysis of identified genomic regions spanning the identified QTLs was carried out. A total of 538 genes were predicted in the QTL region on chromosome 8, of which eight genes related to phosphorus uptake or utilization, including genes related to auxin signalling, phosphatase activity and zinc figure transcription factor appear to be of interest. A total of 1339 genes were predicted in the QTL region on chromosome 1, of which 14 genes related to phosphorus uptake or utilization, including auxin responsive genes and genes involved in maintenance of Pi homeostasis are of interest. A total of 712 genes were predicted in the QTL region controlling root volume, located on chromosome 7. Among them, 12 genes related to phosphorus uptake or utilization, including auxin responsive genes and transcription factors involved in regulation of stress related genes appear to be of interest. Similarly, in silico analysis of another QTL for P content in seed located on chromosome 7, predicated 570 genes. Among them, 16 were found to be possibly related to phosphorus uptake or utilization. All the QTLs detected in the present study, appear to be novel and did not overlap with the already reported genes/QTL. The novel low P tolerant rice line, IC216831, which is devoid of Pup1 can be subjected for genetic and molecular marker analysis to identify novel low P tolerance genes/QTLs. Further, the novel QTLs associated with low soil P tolerance identified from Wazuhophek, after their fine-mapping and validation, can be transferred into elite rice varieties and parental lines, which are sensitive to low soil P levels through markerassisted breedingThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR BREEDING FOR IMPROVEMENT OF FOLIAR FUNGAL DISEASE RESISTANCE AND OIL QUALITY IN GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)(PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2019) DNYANESHWAR B. DESHMUKH; BALRAM, MKadiri 6 (K 6) is a popular high yielding, short duration groundnut variety possessing high oil and attractive kernel features, nevertheless K 6 is highly susceptible to late leaf spot (LLS) and rust diseases of groundnut. The present study sought to introgress LLS, rust resistance and high oleic acid traits from donor lines ICGVs 13193 and 15033 respectively into K 6 cultivar. Genotyping for target alleles was performed in first generation with gel based linked SSR markers and in later generations with high throughput Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) based SNPs assay. Backcrossing and selfing resulted in the development 343 BC1F2s of which 16 plants were identified with homozygous alleles for rust, LLS and high oleic traits. Evaluation of these backcross progenies resulted in four progenies (BC1F2s-76, 216, 225, and 311) resistant to LLS and three progenies (BC1F2s-4, 186 and 327) resistant to rust. Morphoagronomic and nutritional quality analysis revealed three progenies (BC1F2s-76, 278 and 296) were superior for morpho-agronomic and nutritional traits over K 6. The pod features viz., pod beak, pod reticulation, pod constriction, and pod ridges were attractive over K 6. The higher oil content (>50.0%) was observed in 11 progenies (BC1F2s-5, 76, 120, 144, 186, 214, 225, 249, 278, 296 and 327) in comparison to K 6 (49.5%). The oleic acid was higher in three progenies BC1F2-76 (81.32%), BC1F2-278 (82.8%) and BC1F2-296 (83.4%). Author : DNYANESHWAR B. DESHMUKH Title of Thesis : MOLECULAR BREEDING FOR IMPROVEMENT OF FOLIAR FUNGAL DISEASE RESISTANCE AND OIL QUALITY IN GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) Degree : DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Faculty : AGRICULTURE Discipline : MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Major advisor : Dr. M. BALRAM University : PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY Year of submission : 2019 ABSTRACT These three progenies showed resistance to LLS a disease score of 3.0- 3.5 and rust resistance with a disease score of 4.0. The selected progenies featured with slight pod constriction and pod reticulation. Pod beak was slight in two progenies (BC1F2s-76 and 296) and medium in BC1F2-278. The pod ridges were absent in BC1F2s- 278 and 296 and slight in BC1F2-76. All the selected segregants showed higher oil content (>50.0%), oleic acid (>80.0%) and reduced linoleic acid (<10.0%). Advanced breeding lines derived from K 6 for LLS, rust resistance and high oleic traits will be suitable replacement for K 6 especially in disease hot spot locations.ThesisItem Open Access MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION IN ADVANCED BACKCROSS POPULATION OF RICE (Oryza sativa L.) VARIETY, TELLAHAMSA FOR COMBINED BACTERIAL BLIGHT AND BLAST RESISTANCE(PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2018) RAMPRASAD ERUVURI; DURGA RANI, Ch.VBacterial blight (BB) and Blast diseases are the two important major diseases in rice, which accounts for significant yield losses annually in all rice growing areas. As per the available information the major resistance genes viz., xa13 and Xa21; Pi54 and Pi1 offer resistance to BB and blast diseases respectively. Tellahamsa (RNR10754), a rice variety derived from the cross, HR 12 / TN 1 is one of the popular rice varieties for Rabi season because of its cold tolerance and salt tolerance at seedling and vegetative stages, along with short duration, high yielding ability and long slender grain quality. However, it is susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) and blast diseases which are endemic to many rice growing states in India including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. An improved line of Tellahamsa TH-625-491 (ICF3 line) having two BB resistance genes (xa13 and Xa21) and two blast resistance genes (Pi54 and Pi1) with 95% Tellahamsa genome was used to further improve the recovery of recurrent parent genome (RPG) by using more number of polymorphic SSR markers covering all chromosomes along with four target genes as the present line TH-625-491 is deviating from Tellahamsa for certain important agronomic characters. TH-625-491-7 were validated along with the original donor parents (B95-1 for xa13 and Xa21; NLR145 for Pi54 and Pi1 genes) and checks GPP2 (xa13 and Xa21), Tetep (Pi54) and C Lac 101(Pi1) for the presence of target genes by using xa13-promo (functional marker) for xa13 gene, pTA248 (STS marker) for Xa21 gene, Pi54 MAS (functional marker) for Pi54 gene and RM224 (gene linked marker) for Pi1 gene and found all resistance alleles in homozygous condition. TH-625-491-7 was used for backcrossing with Tellahamsa. Eighty polymorphic SSR markers were used for background analysis in the developed pyramided lines xx carrying 4, 3 and 2 target gene combinations. In the present study, IBC1F1 (BC3F1), IBC1F2 and IBC1F2:3 materials were generated and evaluated. Among seventeen IBC1F1 plants IBC1F1-62 plant recorded highest recurrent parent genome (97.5%) covering 75 polymorphic markers. A total of 920 IBC1F2 plants were screened and homozygous plants possessing four genes (4 plants), three genes (49 plants) and two genes (169 plants) were identified. Phenotyping for BB was carried out with highly virulent ICAR-IIRR isolate, DX-020 at Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Rajendranagar. As compared to Recurrent parent Tellahamsa, the plants having both xa13 and Xa21 genes exhibited very small percentage of diseased leaf area (1-2.8% with a score of 1) indicating a very high level of resistance followed by the plants with Xa21 gene alone (7.2-8.0% diseased leaf area with a score of 3) indicating moderate level of resistance and xa13 gene alone (14.5% diseased leaf area with a score of 5) indicating moderate level of susceptibility. This could be due to the up-regulation of host susceptibility genes by TAL (Transcription Activator Like) effector proteins producing from Xoo strains. Background analysis was done in 19 homozygous IBC1F2 plants (possessing xa13, Xa21, Pi54 and Pi1 in different combinations) with five parental polymorphic SSR markers. IBC1F2-62-515 recovered 98.5% recurrent parent genome. Nineteen IBC1F2 plants were selected and advanced to IBC1F2:3 generation based on BB resistance (scores of 1-4) and above mentioned phenotypic characters viz., days to flowering, plant height and grain type. The selected 19 IBC1F2:3 lines were screened for blast resistance during November and December, 2016 with local isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae from their respective stations viz., SPI-40 (ICAR-IIRR), ID-14 (Rice Research Centre, Nellore) and IB-45 (Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Institute, Maruteru) under uniform blast nursery (UBN) method. The results revealed that all 19 IBC1F2:3 lines were showing varied degree of resistance with scores ranging from “3-9” means highly resistance to highly susceptible in all the locations even though the blast resistance genes are present in those plants. The plants with two gene combination alone i.e., Pi54+Pi1 showed moderate resistance at Hyderabad, Maruteru whereas moderately susceptible at Nellore. This result might be due to increased disease severity at that particular location/season when compared to the earlier seasons as it was evidenced from the disease reaction of the evaluated donors (NLR145) and Tetep with moderate blast resistance of score 5 at Nellore. In addition to this it might also be due to variation in the blast pathogen races at Hyderabad, Maruteru and Nellore. This is evidenced from the AVT 1 – NIL (Blast) trails which were conducted by IIRR in different locations showed that differential disease reaction for blast. Similarly, presence of mere major genes for blast resistance is not enough to impart durable resistance and slow-blasting components (minor genes / QTLs) also required for imparting durable blast resistance in rice. This is evidenced from similar study which was carried out under the same project in our institute where similar major genes (Pi54 and Pi1) for blast kept under MTU1010 background exhibited consistent blast resistance because MTU1010 is derived from Krishnaveni / IR64 in which IR64 is having inherent blast disease resistance (means it is having some slow-blasting components (minor genes / QTLs), while these major genes exhibited moderate resistance to susceptibility in Tellahamsa background because Tellahamsa is derived from the cross of HR12/TN1 in that HR12 was frequently used as susceptible check in blast screening programme and TN1 is also one of the susceptible check in biotic stress xxi resistance screening methods (means they lack slow-blasting components (minor genes/ QTLs), which further concluded that genetic background of the cultivar is more important in resistance breeding. To confirm the above findings and drawn conclusions the selected 19 IBC1F2:3:4 progenies were screened for blast resistance 2 nd time at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during November and December, 2017 and the results are varied between seasons from highly resistance to susceptibility with scores of 3 to 9. The results of the present study also suspecting that there might be presence of antagonistic effects of bacterial blight and blast resistance genes. But to confirm this there was no supporting literature was found till now and it needs to be studied further. IBC1F2:3 families possessing four, three and two gene combinations (total 19 lines) were analyzed for yield and yield attributes including DUS characters along with Tellahamsa. IBC1F2-62-515 line found similar to Tellahamsa with respect to yield and yield related characters besides showing resistance to BB with moderate resistance to blast. The three gene and two gene improved lines (IBC1F2:3-62-153, IBC1F3-62-497, IBC1F2:3-62-499, IBC1F2:3-62-187) were on par with Tellahamsa for yield but superior to BB resistance and have been forwarded for further multiplication. Although the improved lines consistently showed resistance to BB, needs further screening for blast resistance at multi locations to generate information on variations in blast pathogen races with reference to the temperature and relative humidity during that particular season. The above improved lines of Tellahamsa possessing BB resistance and moderate blast resistance can be advanced for multi-location testing in the state of Telangana and All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP) screening for their evaluation to have the correct picture of moderate resistance to the blast disease reaction across environments. The recommendation and adoption of durable bacterial blight resistant varieties and moderate blast resistance not only saves the input cost but also saves the environment by reducing the number of chemical sprays. Finally the farmer can earn more income from unit land area. Key words: Bacterial Blight, Blast, molecular markers, foreground selection, background selection, recurrent parent genome, molecular breeding, Tellahamsa, xa13, Xa21, Pi54 and Pi1 genes.ThesisItem Open Access ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND SCREENING OF PGPR FROM SALINE SOILS OF TELANGANA AND FIELD EVALUATION OF EFFICIENT ISOLATES ON GREENGRAM UNDER SALINE STRESS CONDITIONS(PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2018) BIYYANI SUMAN; TRIVENI, SSalinity is one of the major abiotic stress limiting the productivity of agriculture in India, successful remediation of salt degraded areas for crop production is based on sustainable management practices which involves the use of salt tolerant microorganisms which are of low cost and easily adaptable method by the farmers. Present investigation was focussed towards isolation of salinity tolerant bacteria from the saline rhizospheric soils of Telangana and in vitro screening of the isolates for NaCl tolerance and field evaluation of the efficient isolates on greengram crop under saline stress conditions. Eighty salt tolerant bacteria were isolated from 20 villages of Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts of Telangana, as the districts are prone to saline soils. The isolates were culturally, morphologically and biochemically characterized, among 80 isolates 35 were identified as Bacillus sp., 22 as Pseudomonas sp., 16 as Azotobacter sp., and 7 as Rhizobium sp. according to the Bergey’s manual of Systemic Bacteriology. The isolates were screened in vitro for salinity tolerance and 40 isolates which tolerated 15 per cent NaCl were further evaluated for drought tolerance, ACC deaminase activity, EPS production and plant growth promoting attributes like phosphorous, potassium and zinc solubilization, siderophore, HCN and IAA production. Results revealed that among the 40 isolates 42.5 per cent isolates showed tolerance at - 0.73 MPa, 22.5 per cent isolates utilized ACC as a sole nitrogen source, 55 per cent isolates produced EPS, phosphorous was solubilized by 40 per cent isolates, potassium by 22.5 per cent, zinc by 82.5 per cent isolates, siderophores was produced by 27.5 per cent isolates, HCN was produced by 70 per cent and IAA was produced by 50 per cent isolates. Six efficient isolates were selected and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. BLAST search results through NCBI revealed 98 per cent similarity of the isolate PJ 21 with Bacillus licheniformis, 99 per cent similarity of PJ 23 with Pseudomonas syringae, 98 per cent similarity of PJ 37 with Pseudomonas fluorescens, 99 per cent similarity of PJ 19 with Pseudomonas alcaligenes, 97 per cent similarity of PJ 70 with Azotobacter sp. and 98 per cent similarity of PJ 71 with Bacillus subtilis. Two pot culture experiments were conducted during Kharif and Rabi, 2017. The results revealed the Rabi data was superior over Kharif data due to residual effect of microbial consortium which influenced crop production. Plant height at 60 DAS was found significantly highest in T9 with 28.67 cm in Rabi, fresh weight at 60 DAS was registered significantly highest in T9 with 14.33 g and dry weight was found significantly highest in the consortium treatment with 5.08 g. Total bacterial population was enumerated and found to be significantly highest in T9 (T1 + Seed treatment with consortium) with 4.28 x 107 , 7.42 x 107 and 5.82 x 107 CFU g-1 of soil at 20, 40 and 60 DAS respectively. Influence of salinity tolerant strains on nodulation was assessed and found highest in the consortium treated pots with 19.67 nodule number, 46.24 mg p-1 of nodule fresh weight and 38.87 mg p-1 of nodule dry weight. Influence on enzyme activity at flowering stage was assessed with the enzymes urease, dehydrogenase and phosphatase and found significantly highest in T9 with 32.6 µg NH4 N g-1 d -1 , 8.2 µg TPF g-1 d -1 and 128.4 µg of PNP g-1 h -1 activity respectively. Number of pods per plant was measured at harvest and found highest in seed treatment with consortium with 14.8, seed yield of plants was also found to be highest in T9 with 6.8 q ha-1 . Soil analysis was carried out for NPK at harvest and showed highest in consortium treatment with 2 - 3 per cent increase over control. In the field experiment, plant height, fresh weight and dry weight at 60 DAS was found significantly highest in T9 and increased two fold over control. Total bacterial population was enumerated and found to be significantly highest in T9 (T1 + Seed treatment with consortium) with 3 - 4 fold population over control. Influence of strains on nodulation was measured and consortium treated plants improved nodule number by 30 per cent, nodule fresh weight by 35 per cent and nodule dry weight by 45 per cent. Soil enzymes like urease, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity was found significantly more in T9 with 35 per cent, 80 per cent and 45 per cent increase respectively over control. Number of pods per plant was measured at harvest and found highest in consortium treatment with two fold increase and seed yield of plants was found to increase by 47 per cent over control. Soil analysis was carried out for NPK at harvest and found 2 -3 fold increase of consortium treatment when compared with control.ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF MICROBIAL CULTURES AND ORGANIC MANURE ON LEAFY VEGETABLES GROWN IN POLLUTED SOILS AND POLLUTED WATER(PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2018) NISSI PAUL. MARAPATLA; Triveni, TThe experiment was conducted during 2016 -17 at Department of Agricultural Microbiology and Bioenergy, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU, Hyderabad. Heavy metal pollution is currently a major environmental problem because metal ions persist in the environment due to their non-degradable nature. The toxicity and bioaccumulation tendency of heavy metals in the environment is a serious threat to the health of living organisms. Bioremediation is a state-of-the-art technique used for heavy metal removal or recovery from polluted environments. The technique utilizes inherent biological mechanisms to eradicate hazardous contaminants using microorganisms and plants, or their products. Microorganisms are omnipresent that dominate in heavy metalcontaminated soil and can easily convert heavy metals into non-toxic forms. A total of 28 isolates were collected from different polluted sites of Hyderabad where green leafy vegetables were grown. The isolates were screened for their PGPR properties, the isolates were also tested for their heavy metal tolerance. The best five potential heavy metal tolerant PGP bacteria were studied for their molecular identification and were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. BLAST search through NCBI revealed 97 % similarity of SfS-5 with Bacillus megaterium, 98 % similarity of AfS-8 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 98 % similarity of SfS-18 with Rhizobium meliloti, 99 % similarity of SfS-24 with Azotobacter chroococcum, 97 % similarity of SfW-28 with Azotobacter chroococcum. An experiment entitled “Influence of microbial cultures and organic manure on leafy vegetables grown in polluted soil and polluted water” was conducted in pot culture with 14 treatments and three replications during Rabi, 2016 and Rabi, 2017. The crops grown were spinach and coriander and seed treated with nitrogen fixer (SfS -24) and phosphate solubilizer (AfS - 8). The treatments imposed were T1: (Control- without fertilizers), T2: (Soil + Water + Biofertilisers), T3: (Soil + water + OM), T4: (Soil + water + RDF), T5: (Soil + water + Biofertilisers + OM), T6: (Polluted Soil+ water + Biofertilisers), T7: (Polluted Soil+ water + OM), T8: (Polluted Soil+ water + RDF), T9: (Polluted Soil+ water + Biofertilisers + OM), T10: (Soil + Polluted water + Biofertilisers), T11: (Soil + Polluted water + OM), T12: (Soil + Polluted water + RDF), T13: (Soil + Polluted water + Biofertilisers+ OM), T14: (Sterilized soil - control). The influence of various inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers and biofertilizers on plant height, root length, fresh weight and dry weight, available NPK, soil enzyme, soil microbial population was recorded at 20, 40, 60 DAS of the crop. The number of leaves and yield were determined. The concentrations of macro and micronutrients in plant at harvest were estimated. At the time of Harvest, highest plant growth parameters, dry matter accumulation, number of branches per plant, number leaves per plant yield were recorded in the treatment which received 100 % RDF (T8: Polluted Soil+ water + RDF). Plant height at 60 DAS was found highest in T8 with 30.4 cm in spinach and 45.4 cm in coriander; fresh weight at 60 DAS was registered significantly highest in T8 with 30.4 g in spinach and 11.0 g in coriander. Soil biological quality was high in treatments supplied with biofertilizer along with organic manure application. Bacterial population count was enumerated and found to be significantly highest in T9: Polluted soil + water + Biofertilisers + OM with 101.1 × 107 CFU g -1 of soil with spinach and 92.1 × 107 CFU g -1 of soil with coriander at 60 DAS , Similarly, soil enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, urease and phosphatase) was significantly higher in treatment T9 for both the crops at the time of harvest. Higher heavy metal concentration in the soil was recorded in pots irrigated with polluted water (T10, T11, T12 and T13) with increasing concentration of available NPK. The heavy metal concentration was recorded significantly higher in T12: Soil + Polluted water + RDF (Ni-4.084, Cd-1.573, Co-1.789 and Pb-13.850 mg kg-1 ) in spinach grown soil, whereas, in coriander grown soil was (Ni-3.72, Cd-2.143, Co-0.830 and Pb-9.65 mg kg-1 ). With increase in soil heavy metal content, the accumulation in plant also increased but with decrease in soil microbial population and enzyme activity. Significantly lower levels of heavy metal concentration in both plant shoot and soil was observed in the treatments receiving biofertlisers and organic manures, among all T9 is the treatment showed highest removal even though its initial heavy metal concentration was high. Based on the results obtained in the present study, it is observed that the consortia of heavy metal tolerant PGPR bacteria with soil application of FYM can serve as cost effective, ecofriendly bioremediating source in heavy metal polluted urban areas.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF FYM AND VAM ON DROUGHT TOLERANCE OF SPINACH (Beta vulgaris) (PALAK)(ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, 2012) TIRUPATHI RAO HANUMANTHU, HANUMANTHU; SUMATHI, SA poly bag experiment was conducted at Department of Agricultural Microbiology and Bioenergy, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2011-12 to study the “Effect of FYM and VAM on drought tolerance of spinach (Beta vulgaris) (PALAK)”. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with 3 replications and 8 treatment combinations. Recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (100% RDF, 50% RDF), farm yard manure and mycorrhizae were applied to the soil according to the treatments imposed. All green variety of spinach seeds (20) were sown in poly bags and watered at two levels i.e alternate day and every 4th day. The crop was harvested around 40 days (1st picking) and 60 days (2nd picking) after sowing. At each picking, yield was noted, and fresh leaf samples were used for estimation of total chlorophyll content, proline content,vitamin C content and total carotene content. Dry powdered leaf samples were used for estimation of total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake. The physico - chemical properties of soil and microbial population in the soil were estimated before sowing and after harvesting of the crop. The results revealed that among the treatments with alternate day irrigation, yield was highest in FYM+100%RDF followed by 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Addition of FYM to the treatment VAM+100%RDF significantly increased the yield. Significantly highest dry weight and chlorophyll content were observed in FYM+100%RDF followed by 50%RDF+FYM+VAM and 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. The treatment FYM+100%RDF showed significantly maximum number of leaves followed by 50%RDF+FYM+VAM, 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Highest vitamin C content and phenolic content were recorded in both 50%RDF+FYM+VAM and 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. The vitamin C content was significantly lowest in the treatment with VAM. Addition of VAM to the FYM and chemical fertilizers significantly increased the vitamin C content. Highest antioxidant activity and total carotene content were found in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM treatment. Highest proline content was recorded in FYM+100%RDF followed by FYM+VAM and lowest amount of proline was found in VAM treatment. Highest nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake was observed in the treatment with 50%RDF+FYM+VAM followed by FYM+100%RDF. The uptake was significantly increased when FYM was added to the VAM+100%RDF treatment. Lowest uptake of N, P and K was found in VAM treatment. Maximum pH and high EC values were recorded in the treatment 100%RDF. The organic carbon content was highest in FYM and bulk density was found to be maximum with 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Highest Nitrogen and Phosphorous content were observed in the treatment 100%RDF. Significantly lowest nitrogen and potassium content was observed in VAM treatment. Higher population of Bacteria, Actinomycetes, PSB and Fungi were found to be associated with the FYM treatment while Azotobacter population was maximum in FYM+VAM and VAM+100%RDF treatments. Among the treatments given irrigation at every 4th day, significantly higher yield and dry weight was found in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM which were immediately followed by 50%RDF+FYM+VAM. The results indicate that VAM as such did not influence the dry weight of the spinach crop. The influence of VAM was observed only in combination with FYM and chemical fertilizers. Highest number of leaves and chlorophyll content were recorded in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM and 50%RDF+FYM+VAM respectively. Highest vitamin C content, antioxidant activity and phenolic content were found in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM treatment. On addition of VAM to FYM+100%RDF treatment vitamin C content was significantly increased. Carotene content was highest in FYM+100%RDF followed by 100%RDF+FYM+VAM and 100%RDF. Higher proline content was recorded with 100%RDF+FYM+VAM treatment and lowest proline content was recorded in VAM. The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorous was highest in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. The treatments with VAM, FYM and RDF helped in higher uptake of nitrogen under water stress. Phosphorous uptake recorded high in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Highest Potassium uptake was found in 50%RDF+FYM+VAM and 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Lowest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were found in the treatments VAM, VAM+FYM and FYM respectively. The higher pH and EC were observed in100%RDF. Highest organic carbon content recorded in FYM, FYM+100%RDF and FYM+VAM treatments. Highest bulk density was observed in 100%RDF+FYM+VAM. Highest Nitrogen and Phosphorous content was observed in 100%RDF treatment. Potassium content was highest in VAM+100%RDF treatment. However lowest nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content were observed in VAM. Highest number of bacteria was found in FYM+VAM. Actinomycetes were highest in number in the treatment FYM+VAM and lowest in 100%RDF. Highest number of PSB was observed in the treatment 50%RDF+FYM+VAM. Azotobacter population was highest in FYM+VAM followed by 50%RDF+FYM+VAM treatment and lowest in 100%RDF. Fungal population was highest in the treatment FYM and lowest in 100%RDF. The results obtained in the present experiment indicate that the FYM or VAM or RDF alone did not help in either higher yield or withstanding drought stress. Though FYM with RDF gave the best results than RDF alone, use of VAM with FYM and RDF gave the best results in terms of yield, antioxidant activity, vitamin C content both under normal and drought stress conditions. The % difference in yield was lowest in VAM treatments when compared between the two irrigation levels indicating that the VAM treatment influences yield under drought stress.