~ 249 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2020; 9(10): 249-250 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2020; 9(10): 249-250 © 2020 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 01-08-2020 Accepted: 04-09-2020 PS Negi College of Forestry, VCSGUUHF, Ranichauri, Uttarakhand, India R K Prasad College of Forestry, VCSGUUHF, Ranichauri, Uttarakhand, India Ankit Dongariyal Ph.D., Scholar, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India Corresponding Author: RK Prasad College of Forestry, VCSGUUHF, Ranichauri, Uttarakhand, India Mycorrhizal colonization of VAM/AM fungi in roots of medicinal plants grown under foot hills of Himalayas PS Negi, R K Prasad and Ankit Dongariyal Abstract The present experiment was carried out at HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar Garhwal to evaluate the Mycorrhizal association of VAM/AM fungi with roots of different medicinal plants. Twenty nine medicinal plants were selected at two experimental sites i.e., Srinagar and Chauras for the experiment. Roots of selected plants was cut into small segments and after ptoper staining with tryphan blue it was observed under the microscope. The experimental findings demonstrated that the roots of Apagus spp. in Srinagar locality had the maximum Mycorrhizal colonization of VAM/AM fungi (85); whereas, the roots of Ricinuscommunis, Atropa acuminate, Beauteamonosperma, Artimisia spp., Terminaliachabula, Cassia fistula and Ocimum sanctum had no Mycorrhizal colonization of VAM/AM fungi. Keywords: Mycorrhizal, colonization, VAM/AM, Terminaliachabula Introduction Symbiotic association of Mycorriza with plant roots play an important role in plant growth. VAM particularly dominate warmer and drier soil, temperature and tropical latitudes with higher turnover of organic material. Mycorrhizal association are worldwide distributed and mostly found in cultivated soils, non-cultivated soils, moist forests, scrub, savannah, heaths, grassland sand dune, semi desert and anthracite. Plants with Mycorrhizal association display improved growth in comparision to non-Mycorrhizal ones through increase in uptake of water, phosphorus and other minerals. It has been reported in recent years that the Mycorrhizal confer on host plants several other benefits in addition to enhancement of phosphate uptake. These benefits are biological control of root diseases (Shonbeck, 1979) [5] , nodulation and nitrogen fixation in legumes (Mosse et al.,1976) [3] , hormone production (Allen et al., 1980) [1] , drought resistance (Powell and Bagyaraj, 1984) [4] and increased uptake of several elements such as N, K, Zn, Mg, Ca and S (Hayman, 1982) [3-2] . The co-symbionts used along with VAM leads to synergistic effect with nitrogen fixating bacteria. Positive and significant effect of VAM on growth and survival of forest and agricultural crops have been reported by many scientists. Moreover, the primary seedling establishment, survival and biomass production indicates the potential of VAM fungi to reduce the fertilizers requirements of trees in the degraded lands. Keeping in view the above factors under consideration, the present experiment was conducted to study the association of Mycorrhizal VAM/AM fungi with roots of different medicinal plants. Material and Methods The experiment was carried out at HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal. For the experiment, soil samples were collected from different sites of Srinagar (Bilkedar and Birla campus) and Chauras Campus of Tehri Garhwal in Garhwal University. To determine the colonization of VAM/AM fungi in roots of selected medicinal plants, the roots of plants was washed thoroughly with running tap water to remove the adhering soil particles from the roots. The washed roots were kept in 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH)for 24 hours. Later the roots were removed from the KOH solution, washed with tap water again and roots were stained with tryphan blue. For preparation of the slides, the roots were cut into small segments of 1 cm length and mounted on slide in lacto phenol. These segments were pressed tightly and the slides were observed under the microscope to determine the colonization of the VAM/AM in roots. The root segments showing presence of any structure either hyphae or arbuscules on vesicles were considered as Mycorrhizal ones.