Shelf Life Studies of Seed Coat Formulation of Rhizobium and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus (AMF) for Pulses - A New Perspective in Biofertilizer Technology

Background: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium are beneficial plant partners exhibiting mutual association with crop plants. Conventional carrier based formulation has lesser population and limited shelf life. Present study was aimed to evaluate and to assess the shelf life in new formulation as well as in coated seeds under storage.Methods: Three experiments are conducted in this study. Population of Rhizobium and AM fungi spore count were assessed in newer seed coat formulation under room temperature storage. Secondly survival of these organisms on the coated seeds of blackgram and greengram were evaluated. In third experiment the coated seeds stored for different duration were evaluated for germination, growth and vigour index.Result: Rhizobial population was maintained at 1011 g-1 and AM spore load was 900-1000 spores g-1 up to one year of storage. AM spore count was also found sufficient up to 9 months of storage in coated seeds of both crops. Growth and vigour index were significantly enhanced in inoculated plants over uninoculated control. From the study, it was evident that these formulations can be stored upto one year at room temperature without any loss in viable count and can be used for seed coating.