Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) inoculum on vegetative growth of Allium Cepavar. Ascalonicum L.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculum on vegetative growth of Allium cepa var. ascalonicum L.. The experiment design used was completely randomized design (CRD). Data. was analysed by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences between means was tested by using Duncan's Multiple Range test. For the first part of this study, the AMF inoculums were prepared by using host plants namely Eleusine indica L., Chloris barbata Sw., and Mimosa pudica L .. Zea mays L. used as a trap plant. Significant (p<0.05) differences in the percentage of AMF colonization (%) and soil phosphorus concentration (ppm) were observed in Z. mays. AMF inoculum of M. pudica was found to be the most responsive as it showed to have highest percentage of AMF colonization (87.5±7.1 %) and lowest soil phosphorus concentration (21,742±3,674 ppm). For the second part of this study, there were no significant differences in plant height, root length, number of leaves and number of tillers of Allium cepa var. ascalonicum L. were observed in all treatments during week 1 to week 4. A significant (p