ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION, SCREENING AND SELECTION OF AN EFFICIENT AM FUNGUS FOR ASHWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera L.)
Loading...
Date
2014-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) has tremendous medicinal values. The ashwagandha berries and leaves are locally applied to tumors, tubercular glands, carbuncles and ulcers. The main active constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. In Ayurveda, Withania is widely claimed to have potent aphrodisiac, sedative, rejuvenative and life prolonging properties. The present study emphasized the isolation, characterization, screening and selection of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from ashwagandha growing areas of Karnataka. The efficient AM fungal isolates were tested at different phosphorus levels, Mycorrhizal dependency and mycorrhizal inoculation effect on ashwagandha was also worked out. Further, an attempt was made to produce manoxinic culture of AM fungus in artificial media. Additionally, the growth promoting ability of efficient AM fungal isolate was evaluated in pot as well as in field condition. The results of this study clearly brought out AM-G-9a to be an efficient isolate of AM fungus for ashwagandha as it might have a better adoptability to the local conditions. The inoculation of this isolate resulted better plant nutrition, alkaloid content, growth and yield of ashwagandha in both pot and field condition. The shelf life of soil based inoculum was 3 months at room temperature while it was 5 months under refrigerated condition.
Description
Keywords
null