Influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Biochemical Changes in Wedilla Chinensis (Osbeck) Merril

A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of seven Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) namely, Acaulospora deligata, Glomus aggregatum, G feugianum, G fasciculatum, G rubiforme, Gigaspora margarita, and Scutellospora heterogama collected from the rhizosphere soils of Wedilia chinensis (Osbeck) Merril. They were evaluated on the same host for improvement of phytochemical constituents, namely total phenols, ortho dihydroxy phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins and enhanced levels of acid and alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities. The extent of phytochemical constituents and levels of enzymes varied with the species of AM fungi inhabiting the W. chinensis seedlings. Analyses performed 90 days after inoculation showed that maximum beneficial effect in terms of increased phytochemical constituents and defense related enzyme levels was with Glomus fasciculatum.