Abstract

INFLUENCE OF AMF (GLOMUS CORONATUM AND GLOMUS ETUNICATUM) ON PLANT GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF VINCA MINOR GROWING UNDER HIMALAYAN CONDITION

Devi B.* and Bhattacharya S.

Abstract

Physiological performance of plants in general, particularly cultured plant productivity and crops quality depend on the rhizosphere characteristic feature, an area of great interest to plants, producers, consumers and environmental health. Among the rhizosphere components, arbuscular mycorrhizae are one of the most common types of symbiotic associations between some rhizosphere microorganisms and plants roots. AMF leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which stimulates formation of highly active signaling compounds capable of striggering production of bioactive compounds (secondary metabolites) that enhances the medicinal value of the plant. Vinca minor, a medicinal plant, was selected in the present study. The plant was subjected to AMF namely, Glomus coronatum (10%), Glomus etunicatum (10%) Glomus coronatum + Glomus etunicatum (10%) in order to see their impact on morphological, physiological, biochemical parameters of Vinca minor. It is known to be a valuable medicinal plant in folk medicine and it also serves as a natural source for the industrial production of medicaments for stimulating the brain blood flow. V. minor contains monomeric eburnamine-type indole alkaloids including vincamine which has modulatory effects on brain circulation and neuronal homeostasis as well as antihypoxic and neuroprotective potencies. The study revealed that inoculation of AMF cause significant increase in length of root and shoot, Leaf area, leaf number Stem diameter, and membrane stability index. Changes in total carbohydrate, total free amino acid, total protein content also occur.

Keywords: AM, Medicinal plants, ROS, Vincamine.