BIOMASS PRODUCTION, NUTRIENT-UPTAKE AND NODULATION IN PROSOPIS-CINERARIA BY INDIGENOUS VAM FUNGI

The incidence of root infection by indigenous VAM fungi and its conseq uence on biomass production, nodulation and nutrition of Proso,is cinc raria were studied in pots in five different soils of Indian Thar dese rt. Soil sterilization completely inhibited root colonization by indig enous VAM fungi. However, considerable root colonization occurred in r oots of the plants in unsterilized soils. Root colonization by indigen ous VAM fungi resulted in improved nodulation. The indigenous VAM fung i also improved uptake of N, P, K, Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn in all the five s oil types. VAM infection resulted in increased biomass production and the plant showed field mycorrhizal dependency for its biomass.