Synergistic effect between phosphate solubilizing bacteria and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and p uptake in Cajanus cajana L. (Pigeon pea)

The influence of phosphate solubilizing bacterium ( Bacillus polymyxa ) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( Rhizophagus fasciculatus ) on growth and phosphorus uptake in Cajanus cajana were studied, in green house conditions. Experiments were carried out by using both sterilized and unsterilized garden soil (sandy loam). Mycorrhiza with P-solubilizing bacteria inoculated with sterilized soil produced significantly higher growth, dry matter and increase in nodule number and P uptake in shoot. Moderate or lower growth response was observed among the plants grown in unsterilized soil either PSB or AMF inoculation. On the contrary non-inoculated plants in sterilized garden soil did not showed meager growth and higher total P uptake. A synergistic effect was recorded with increased plant dry matter, nodule number and P uptake in the plants treated with both the inoculum and in sterilized soil.