Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in alle-viation of zinc phytotoxicity in finger millet

Maintenance of soil quality and remediation stragies for management of soils contaminated with pollutants including heavy metals is in increasing demand worldwide. A greenhouse study was undertaken using a factorial design with 4X4 treatments with four levels of strains of mycorrhizal fungi viz. uninoculated control (M0), inoculation with Gigaspora ACP-1(M₁), Glomus ACP-2(M₂)and Scutellospora ACP-2(M₃) and four levels of heavy metals each of zinc @0,150,300 and 450 mg Zn kg-1 to find out the effects of inoculation with mycorrhizal strains under doses of Zn on finger millet (Eluesine coracana L.) at 30,60 and 105 days days after sowing (DAS). In absence of Zn all the three fungal strains were equally effective is promoting plant growth and nutrients uptake but when Zn was added to soils, the plant growth and uptake of nutrients were decreased over control. Glomus ACP-2 (M₂ strain) was found to be the most tolerant strain to the increasing levels of Zn addition to soil over the other two strains.