Bioinoculation Effect of Frankia sp. and Microbial Bioagents on Growth and Development of Elaeagnus latifolia L. seedlings: An Endangered Plant Species of North East India

Aims: Analyses were done on the role of rhizospheric symbiotic Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Non-AM fungus and a bacterium in growth and development of E. latifolia L. seedlings.

Study Design and Methodology: The seedlings were inoculated with recognized AM fungal strain (Glomus mosseae, Gm 1), non-AM fungus (Trichoderma harzianum, Th-13) alone and nitrogen fixing bacteria Frankia sp. in combined form (both, dual and triple/ tripartite consortium) and analysed for their effect on growth parameters i.e. increase in length, diameter, circumference, Sturdiness quotient (Sq), Biovolume index (Bi) and Plastochron interval index (Pi) of the target plant species.

Results: Qualitative analysis have revealed that the consortium treatment containing Glomus mosseae and Frankia sp. (FS-03) resulted in more increase in the length (7.0 ±0.25 cm), diameter (1.3 ±0.25 cm), circumference while the highest biovolume index was observed in the consortium treatment of Frankia sp. along with Glomus mosseae, Trichoderma harzianum viz. Fs-04 (280.96 ± 20.0) and sturdiness quotient of 0.25 including reduced phyto-mortality and initiating rapid phyllogenesis in inoculated seedlings as compared to control seedlings. In contrast to control seedlings, which are covered in depth in this work, a similar pattern with negligible variance in all analyzed parameters as indicated above were also seen in other alone and combined treatments.

Conclusion: As a result, it was shown that both AM alone and consortium inoculations with Frankia sp. increased this plant species' adaptation and resilience.