SELECTION OF EFFICIENT VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI FOR INOCULATING THE MANGO ROOTSTOCK CULTIVAR NEKKARE

The cultivar 'Nekkare' is one of the important mango rootstocks used f or different types of grafting. Nine different vesicular arbuscular my corrhizal (VAM) fungi were screened for their symbiotic response with 'Nekkare' mango in unsterilised soil. Of the nine fungi, Gigaspora mar garita was found to be best for improving growth and nutrition resulti ng in greater plant height, stem diameter, shoot biomass and shoot pho sphorus content. Inoculation with this fungus also made the rootstock 'Nekkare' ready for grafting in about 8 months thus saving about 1-2 m onths time for softwood grafting and 4-6 months for wedge and veneer g rafting.