SELECTION OF AN EFFICIENT INDIGENOUS ARBUSCULAR MYCORHIZAL FUNGUS FOR COFFEA ARABICA L. OF NILGIRI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA.

The present study was undertaken to screen and select an efficient Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and also to study its effect on growth, biomass and nutrition in Coffea arabica L. of Nilgiri District. A poly bag trial was conducted at Government Arts College, Ooty. Seven dominant native AM fungi Acaulospora scorbiculata, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus geosporum, Glomus mosseae, and Scutellospora heterogama isolated from different coffee plantations of Nilgiris were tested for their symbiotic efficiency against coffee plants. The growth and biomass in 6 months, 10 months, 14 months and 18 months and nutrient level of 18 months seedlings of seven different AM fungi inoculated plants were recorded. In general, inoculated plants showed increased plant height, number of leaves and biomass compared to control plants without am fungi inoculum. The plant growth, biomass and nutrient were maximum in plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae followed by those inoculated with Glomus aggregatum. Considering the various parameters such as plant growth, biomass and nutritional status of the plant, it was observed that Glomus mosseae is the best AM symbiont for C. arabica L. used in this experiment.