Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation Enhances Survival Rates and Growth of Micropropagated Plantlets of Echinacea pallida

Abstract In an attempt to induce positive effects on the acclimatization of IN VITRO propagated ECHINACEA PALLIDA, four arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, GLOMUS MOSSEAE, GIGASPORA RAMISPOROPHORA, SCUTELLOSPORA FULGIDA and ENTROPHOSPORA COLOMBIANA were selected to aid the soil adaptation process. Fungal inocula affected the survival of E. PALLIDA plantlets ranging from 83 % to 92 %, depending on the AM species and also contrasting with 58 % survival of the non-inoculated plantlets. Growth and development were faster in mycorrhizal treated plantlets than in non-treated ones, especially among those treated with GLOMUS MOSSAE and SCUTELLOSPORA FULGIDA. The presence of well-formed arbuscules and vesicles in ECHINACEA infested roots was confirmed by microscopic examinations in addition to 90 % success in the survival rate of vigorous plants indicated that mycorrhization is a valuable tool to overcome ECHINACEA acclimatization shock.