Effect of composite inoculation of ectomycorrhizal fungi Scleroderma bovista along with two mycorrhizosphere bacterial inoculants was studied on banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) plant growth in nursery glasshouse experiment. Seven treatments comprising of uninoculated control, two bacterial controls, one ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal control, two combinations of mycorrhizosphere bacteria and ECM fungus along with one composite inoculation of two bacteria with ECM fungus were used in the study. Dual treatment of S. bovita with Pseudomonas fluorescens MB9 yielded maximum shoot length (15.26 cm) and collar diameter (0.320 cm) of the plant. Triple inoculation of S. bovista with the two bacteria yielded maximum root length (36.86 cm), lateral roots (24.8), short roots (351.6), dry weight (6.746 g) and ectomycorrhizal colonization (39.2%). The study suggests the use of composite inoculation of native mycorrhizosphere bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, P. fluorescens and others with Scleroderma bovista for the better growth of Q. leucotrichophora, which is a slow growing plant.
Growth enhancement, Scleroderma bovista, mycorrhiza helper bacteria, ectomycorrhiza
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