Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Photosynthetic Pigments in (Coriandrum sativum L.) Grown under Cadmium Stress

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on growth and photosynthetic pigments in medicinally important Coriandrum sativum with different levels of Cadmium (Cd) was investigated. Plants inoculated with and without AM fungi were grown in soil with 0, 50 and 100 Cd mg kg super(-1) soil. The plants inoculated with AM fungi showed better growth and less toxic symptoms. Photosynthetic pigments were significantly higher in AM-inoculated plants. Plant inoculated with AM fungus showed significant increase in fresh weight, dry weight, root and shoot length at all levels of Cd concentration, as compared with the control. Tolerance index of Coriandrum sativum was increased in the presence of AM fungi over their control.