Published Paper Details:

Current study was designed with the main purpose to study terrestrial orchid species of Karnataka for their mycorrhizal association. The present investigation on the study of mycorrhizae in the selected terrestrial orchid included collection of orchid plant, rhizosphere soil samples and nutritional analysis of rhizosphere soil. The terrestrial orchid was collected from natural habitats from various locations of Kemmangundi and Sagar provinces of Karnataka State and was later investigated for mycorrhizal association. The rhizosphere soil samples along with underground parts the above plants were collected. Both physico-chemical and chemical analysis of the soil like determination of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, macro and micronutrients were carried out. Soil analysis in all the samples have revealed that even though soil was rich with humus and contained adequate amount of soil nutrients, phosphorus was found to be low. Soil phosphorus availability was positively related to mycorrhizal diversity probably because under low soil phosphorus availability plants and fungi are both phosphorus limited.