Endomycorrhizal studies in Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. of Kerala, India

This is the first report of an ecological investigation on endomycorrhizal symbiosis in Curcuma aeruginosa, a medicinally and nutritionally important herb. Samples were collected from the field, where the plant grows under natural condition. AM fungal and soil fertility parameters were analysed as per standard methods. Altogether 16 different AM fungal species from seven different soil series are discovered. AM fungal species composition varied among soil series. Species richness of AM fungi was positively correlated with organic carbon content of soil. Shannon's diversity index and Simpson's index in the study area were measured. High intensity of AM fungal colonization in the roots of naturally growing C. aeruginosa suggests the need of proper management of the association in its cultivation practices also. Data obtained from the present investigation may help for the development of native AM fungi based biofertilizer based for a sustainable soil fertility management and cultivation of the crop.