The Effect of the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungus Glomus intraradices on the Growth and Yield of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Under Salinity Stress

The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza on growth and yield of chilli plants grown under salinity condition. Seeds of chilli were sown in sand beds in size 5×1m under shade net condition at Botanical Garden, Department of Botany, Annamalai University. Forty days old seedlings (DAS) were transplanted into pots (one seedling per pot) until the fruit ripening period. After transplanting, seedlings of chilli were treated with AM fungi, 25 mM NaCl, AM fungi with 25mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl and AM fungi with 50 mM NaCl. Observations showed that whole plant dry weight (g plant ), plant 1 height (cm), no. of primary branches per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit yield (kg plant ) and root 1 colonization (%) decreased with increasing dose of salinity. Among these treatments, AM fungi treated plants shows maximum yield when compared to control and others. It promotes salinity tolerance by employing various mechanisms, such as enhancing nutrient acquisition, producing plant growth hormones, improving rhizophoric and soil condition, altering the physiological and biochemical properties of the host. The overall results suggest that mycorrhizal colonization improves host plant mineral concentration and thereby alters fruit production and quality of fruits under salinity stress in chilli plants.