A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
Pot culture experiments were carried out in non-pasteurised soil to determine the effects ofsix different VAM fungi such as Gigaspora margarita, Glomus deserticola, G. fasciculatiim, G. mosseae, G. monosporum and G. versiforme individually as well as in combinations with Frankia sp. on the seedling growth of Casuarina equisetifolia. Inoculation of VAM fungi or Frankia sp. increased the growth and biomass. Among the different VAM fungi, Glomusfasciculatiim followed by G. versiforme significantly enhanced the growth, stem girth and biomass. Inoculation with G. monosporum increased mycorrhizal infection and spore number in the soil. Co-inoculation with Gigaspora margarita and Frankia sp. significantly increased root colonization and spore number. Nodule number and nodular biomass were increased with the inoculation of VAM fungi. They were further increased by inoculations with Frankia sp. with a maximum in G. mosseae and Frankia sp. inoculated seedlings. Inoculation with Gigaspora margarita individually orin combination with Frankia sp.significantly increased tissue P and K concentration. Significant increase of N concentration was observed in Glomus monosporum inoculation.