Comparitive study of Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization between some Weeds and Ornamentals from Brahmala lake garden, Thane, MS, India

Abstract

Weeds are unavoidable in any cultivable patch and gardens are also not exceptional case. In absence of weeding as a horticultural practice, weeds can be a big problem which gets more troublesome in case of gardens, as weeds may superpose the beauty of that particular part of garden. Majority of weeds show presence of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) root colonization. This root colonization may be reached to 100 per cent in weeds like Euphorbia hirta. Similar way, many of the ornamentals used in gardens are also known to harbour AM. Thane city is one of the main hubs for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai which facilitates a good ambience for new comers in Mumbai. A number of lakes is one of the characters of Thane City (Maharashtra). Majority of them are in proper city and as a recreation, gardens are developed surrounding to these lakes. One of such garden is Brahmala Talao Udyan (Brahmala Lake Garden), which is under Thane Municipal Corporation. In present investigation, roots of some weeds like Euphorbia hirta, Phyllanthus niruri, Physalis minima, Tridax procumbence, Heliotropium indicum etc and of some ornamentals like Pedilanthus sp, Rosa indica, Duranta racemosa, Cynadon dactylon, Acalypha indica etc were screened for presence of AM fungi association. Care was taken that both the types of plants like weeds and ornamentals were collected on same day. Same time rhizospheric soil samples of respective plants were collected and analysed for physico-chemical properties like soil pH, organic matter, soil moisture etc. Same rhizospheric soil samples were screened for AMF spores (chlamydospores).