Mycorrhizal fungi have been a paramount source of biological agent by which
damages inflicted by soil-borne pathogens/microbes can be checked. A pot study was
conducted to screen and to select potential arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for
tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) var. Pusa Ruby in sandy clay loam soil of
Aligarh. Six different AMF were evaluated for their efficacy in term of growth
characteristics, nutrient status and mycorrhization. Interaction with AMF species
resulted in higher plant growth parameters such as root and shoot biomass and
nutrient contents (N, P and K). Measurements of plants, harvested at 20, 40 and 60
days of sampling stages after inoculation showed per cent increase in external and
internal colonization, per cent arbuscules in roots and number of chlamydospores per
kg rhizosphere soil. Tomato responded to its best to inoculation with Glomus
mosseae, followed by G. constrictum, G. fasciculatum, G. aggregatum, Acaulospora
scrobiculata and Gigaspora gigantea in terms of plant fresh and dry weight,
mycorrhizal colonization, sporulation and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
content. Out of the six AM fungi screened, G. mosseae was found to be the most
efficacious AM fungi for tomato var. Pusa Ruby which can be used as biofertilizer
and potential biocontrol agent.