Assessing the Effectiveness of Mycorrhizal Inoculation on the Biochemical Composition of the Different Species of Echinacea

ABSTRACT The information regarding the effect of the mycorrhizal inoculation on different Echinacea species is not available in detail. Therefore, here we determined the changes in the biochemical composition of echinacea as a result of mycorrhizal inoculation. This experiment was undertaken to assess the effect of the mycorrhizal association on biochemical properties of different echinacea species ( E . angustifolia,E. purpurea, E . pallida ). Here various echinacea species were inoculated with mycorrhiza to examine the species richness in different traits. The results established that biological traits (plant dry matter, chlorophyll content, carotenoid, N content, P content, K content) and physiological and mycorrhization characteristics (Root essential oil, ABTS Antioxidant, Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant, Total phenolic, AM Spore No., AM Root Colonization) both are higher under mycorrhizal association than the control plants of different echinacea species. E. purpurea showed greater results than the E . angustifolia and E . pallida. Among biochemical properties chlorophyll content, carotenoid and N, P, K were significantly higher under E . Purpurea than the E. angustifolia and E . pallida. Total dry matter was higher under E. angustifolia (49.23 g) and minimum dry matter was found under E . pallida (40.07 g). Physiological and mycorrhizal traits were significantly higher under E . purpurea than the other species. E . purpurea showed higher AM Spore No., AM Root Colonization 231.30, 78.70% respectively. Lowest physiological and mycorrhization characteristics were found under E . pallida. The result of mycorrhizal association was very effective for plant growth and increased bio-physicochemical properties than the control plants.