Role and genetic diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in improving the productivity and enhancing nutrients absorption in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, productivity and mineral contents of chickpeas in pot experiment. The experiment was set in three levels of AMF (50 g, 100 g, and 150 g). Host growth stages of chickpea cultivars had increased positively with the AMF inoculation. Nitrogen concentrations in the rhizospheric soil of Parbath-98 and Noor-2019 cultivars were high (870 mg/kg and 2570 mg/kg, respectively) at low level of AMF inoculum, which indicated the absorption of nitrogen from soil effected inversely. Elemental analysis of chickpea all three cultivars showed good absorption of phosphorus; i.e., 1.50 mg/kg, 0.34 mg/kg, and 2.21 mg/kg at 150 g AMF inoculum. The results of AMF root colonization, spore densities, proximate and elemental analysis revealed that at 150 g AMF inoculum provision, effective outcomes of these indicators seen compare to 50 g and 100 g. The elevated root colonization along spore densities were observed at maximum level of AMF inoculum in all three cultivars of chickpea. The highest AMF root colonization of 66.10% in Dashat-98 directly affected its proximate concentrations. Interaction of AMF with plant proximate and elemental at p < 0.05, a significant association was observed in the absorption of nutrients. Morphologically identified genera of AMF (Glomus, Gigaspora Sclerocystis, and Acaulospora) were in the size range of 33-265 <mu>m in which Glomus was highly abundant. Thirteen AMF taxa were confirmed molecularly by universal AMF primers. It was concluded that AMF inoculum influenced chickpea productivity and a study need in the agricultural fields to explore the diversity of AMF. [GRAPHICS]