Effect of mycorrhiza fungi and different substrates on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Withania coagolense (Stocks) Dun

Withania coagolense (Stocks) Dun. is a perennial shrub, belonging to the Solanaceae family. The study species is rich in a group of valuable compounds as steroidal lactones called withanolides. Nowadays, significant pharmacological properties of withanolides have been reported. The effects of mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis and substratewere studied on withania in the greenhouse of Agricultural Institute at the University of Zabol. The study was conducted in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. The main plot was substrate (cocopit perlit, garden soil manure, sand) and the subplot consisted of mycorrhizal fungi (control, Glomusintraradice, G. mosseae,simultaneous use of both fungi). Phytochemical analysis of the extract was performed by HPLC. Statistical analysis was done using Excel and SPSS software. The results indicated that the garden soil manure and simultaneous use of both fungi had the best effect on increased shoot length and fresh and dry weight. According to the results, the garden soil manure resulted in increased production of secondary metabolites. The simultaneous use of both fungi resulted in higher production of secondary metabolites (except withastramonolid and coagolin). Our results clearly showed that the simultaneous use of both fungi in garden soil manure resulted in increased morphological traits and withastramonolid in the study specie.