Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 17: 922 - 929. Published May 8, 2009.
Development and evaluation of mycorrhiza for rhizosphere bioremediation
Deepali L. Korade and M. H. Fulekar*
Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.
*Corresponding author: mhfulekar@yahoo.com; Tel: +91-2226528847, Fax: +91-2226526053.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Development and evaluation of mycorrhiza at the laboratory scale for further use in rhizosphere bioremediation.
Methodology and results: Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) inoculum was developed at the laboratory scale in designed perforated trays for a period of 2.5 months to prepare mycorrhizal soil for further use in rhizosphere bioremediation of organic contaminants. The physico-chemical parameters (pH, EC, moisture content, %OC, %N, %P and K) of the soil were determined during the development of mycorrhizal inoculum. Bacterial and fungal counts were assessed during the third, sixth and ninth week of the process along with the microbial diversity present in the developed inoculum. The mycorrhizae were characterized during inoculum preparation and in the final product measuring the percentage root colonization and spore density. The developed mycorrhizal inoculum was found to contain high percentage of organic carbon and nitrogen while the bacterial and fungal count increased.
Conclusion and application of findings: Mycorrhiza inoculum developed in the present study was found to have symbiotic association of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere; therefore it would significantly contribute in establishing an effective mycorrhizosphere that can provide the environment for the survival and growth of microorganisms as well as increase in organic carbon which further helps in enhancement of degradation of organic contaminants in the soil during rhizosphere bioremediation.
Key words: Soil based inoculum, sorghum, mycorrhizosphere, phytoremediation, VAM.
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