Response of Solanum melongena L. to Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi under Low and High Phosphate Condition

Abstract

Solanum melongena L. a medicinally and economically important crop plants were grown in polythene bags. The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation (Glomus mosseae) and increasing phosphate levels on the expression of the photosynthetic activity in terms of chlorophyll content. Antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, root acid and alkaline phosphatase activity of Solanum melongena were evaluated. The experimental design was entirely at CRBD with eight treatments with three levels of phosphate (50,100,150 mg kg-1 of soil). Root colonization ranged from 50.33% to 67.33% . The activity of the studied antioxidant enzymes were found to be increased in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) Solanum plants. Root phosphatase activity was greater in 100 and 150 mg phosphate level in AM treated than non AM treated Solanum plants. Besides, only AM treated plants of Solanum reflected increase in total chlorophyll content as compared to non AM plants. This work suggests that the mycorrhiza helps Solanum plants to perform better in low and high phosphate level by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity and total chlorophyll content.