RECLAMATION OF SALINE SOILS BY AM FUNGI FROM PURNA RIVER SUB-BASIN (M.S.)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) is a natural root symbionts which facilitate essential inorganic nutrients to the host plants. These fungi play an essential role in absorbing macronutrients and micronutrients from the soil which is necessary for the vegetative growth of plants. This symbiosis tends to help to minimize the harmful effect of pathogen and protect the plants from the various environmental stresses such as salinity, drought and polluted soil. Salinity is the most damaging environmental threat to the soils especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Poor drainage facilities, irrigation with brackish water, heavy use of chemical fertilizer etc are reasons for the deposition of salts in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are an invaluable beneficial plant symbiont that plays a multifactorial role in the human endeavors of ecosystem management, restoration and all the parameter of agricultural productivity. Now a day, mycorrhiza, the group of fungi is gaining more and more attention due to its diversified role and functions for more sustainable crop productivity.  Adopting mycorrhizal biotechnology in agricultural is a new way to increase sustainability in agricultural and reduces the use of chemical fertilizer dependency. So I feel privilege to introduce the book entitled with “Reclamation of Saline Soils By AM Fungi From Purna River Sub-Basin (M.S.)

The main aim of this book is to provide comprehensive information about arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and future scope for research. The book splits up into 6 chapters and represents information on various aspects of mycorrhizal benefits. Chapter 1 depicted introductory information about salinity and salient features of Purna river sub-basin. Chapter 2 deals with diversity and distribution of AM fungi along with their taxonomic status. In chapter 3 plan of work and methodology used for analysis of soil and water samples are elaborated. It also describes the experimental design of the research work. Chapter 4 deals with the results and discussion in which AMF impacts on the Sunflower crop were depicted. Lastly chapter 5 & 6 concluded with the beneficial role of AM fungi and their application for sustainable agricultural productivity and future prospects of research.  I hope that his book is useful to all students, researchers those who want to work in this field.