Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that form beneficial relationships with plant roots, improving nutrient acquisition, growth and physiological performance, especially in nutrient-poor ecosystems such as the montane shola forests of the Western Ghats. This study examined the diversity of AMF associated with Mahonia leschenaultii in Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, and the influence of native AMF inoculation on seedling growth and physiological performance. Rhizospheric soil and fine roots were collected, and AMF spores were isolated using the wet-sieving and decanting method and identified morphologically. Four genera were observed: Rhizophagus (72%), Glomus (15%), Scutellospora (8%) and Gigaspora (5%), with Rhizophagus being dominant. Root colonisation by AMF was 42.55%, with arbuscules, vesicles and hyphae present in the root samples. Seedlings were inoculated with 100, 150 and 200 spores per seedling, while uninoculated seedlings served as the control. Seedlings were evaluated at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after inoculation. Growth, biomass and physiological parameters were enhanced by AMF inoculation, particularly under treatment T3 (150 spores per seedling). At 120 days, T3 had a mean shoot height of 9.64 cm, collar diameter of 1.19 cm, fresh root weight of 4.56 g and fresh shoot weight of 6.16 g, compared with 7.12 cm, 0.72 cm, 2.91 g and 4.17 g, respectively, in the control. Photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content reached 17.60 and 38.86, respectively, in T3, compared with 11.98 and 32.22 in the control. These results indicate the potential of native AMF to support the early establishment of M. leschenaultii when applied at 150 spores per seedling. Further validation through species-level identification, nutrient-uptake studies and long-term field testing is required before application in nursery production and shola forest conservation.