Assessment of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Root Colonization in Selected Medicinal Plants of the Melghat Region

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in enhancing plant nutrition, growth, and secondary metabolite production, particularly in medicinal plants. The present investigation evaluates the extent of AMF root colonization in three important medicinal plant species, Caesalpinia bonduc, Clerodendrum serratum, and Physalis minima, naturally growing in the Melghat region of Maharashtra, India. Root samples collected from three different sites were processed using standard clearing and staining techniques, and percent root colonization was assessed by the grid-line intersect method. All studied plant species showed strong arbuscular mycorrhizal association characterized by the presence of hyphae, vesicles, arbuscules, and intra-radical spores. High levels of root colonization (96–100%) indicate a strong symbiotic relationship between these medicinal plants and AMF. The findings highlight the ecological significance of AMF in medicinal plant ecosystems and suggest their potential application in sustainable cultivation practices.