Impact of Growth Media and Piriformospora indica Colonisation on Seedling Growth Characters of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A study was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2021-22 to assess the effect of growth media compositions on P. indica colonization and evaluating their effect on rice seedling performance. The experiment employed eight media combinations with and without inoculation, incorporating paddy soil, farmyard manure, vermicompost, neem cake, and coir pith compost in various ratios. Growth parameters recorded at 14 days after sowing included germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf dimensions, shoot and root dry weights, total dry matter production, and vigour index. The results indicated that P. indica inoculation significantly improved seedling growth across all measured parameters compared to uninoculated controls, with the best performance observed in the medium containing paddy soil, farmyard manure, and coir pith compost in a 1:1:1 ratio. The improvement was attributed to the favourable physical properties of coir pith compost that supported fungal colonization. In contrast, neem cake–based uninoculated media consistently suppressed seedling traits. The findings highlight the growth-promoting potential of P. indica, suggesting its applicability in strengthening rice nursery management by fostering vigorous seedlings, particularly under resource-constrained conditions.