Synergistic Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium Inoculation on Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. in Unsterile Soil

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. has been attributed as a desirable leguminous species used in regulating the distributed lands and improving deteriorated waste lands in India. Dalbergia sissoo seedlings were grown in earthen pots containing unsterilized soil inoculated with Glomus fasiculatum, Rhizobium or a combination of symbionts. After 120 days of growth, plant height, dry weight, ischolar_main dry weight, percent mycorrhizal colonization, nitrogen and phosphorus contents were quantified. Plant with either a combination of mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium grew taller and produced higher dry matter of ischolar_main and shoot than infected with Rhizobium species alone or control plants. Presence of Rhizobium increased nitrogen content of the above ground plant. Foliage and inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi increased the phosphorus content. Mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium were found to be synergistic with respect to nitrogen fixation and per cent of ischolar_main colonization.