Guwahati, Nov 22: In a significant scientific milestone for the Northeast, the Department of Botany at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has successfully produced Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) biofertilizers using native fungal strains — marking the first such achievement in the region.
The innovation was led by research scholar Mrs. Nilufa Afruza under the supervision of Dr. Dhritiman Chanda, Assistant Professor, and the guidance of Prof. G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, USTM. Two biofertilizer variants — Glo-VAM and Acaulo-VAM — have been developed based on metagenomic studies identifying Acaulospora and Glomus as dominant AM fungal genera associated with endangered medicinal species in Meghalaya. These have been registered with accession number PRAJNA1298766 and a patent application has been filed.
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) refers to AM fungi that form one of the most beneficial and ancient plant–microbe partnerships.
VAM fungi colonize plant roots and extend microscopic hyphae deep into the soil, functioning as a natural extension of the root system to enhance nutrient and water uptake.
By improving nutrient-use efficiency, VAM reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, offering a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for agriculture, especially medicinal plant cultivation.
Meghalaya is one of the country’s richest reservoirs of medicinal and aromatic plants, many of which face threats from habitat loss, overharvesting, and climate change.
“This breakthrough strengthens the Northeast’s role in biodiversity conservation and aligns with global efforts to shift towards sustainable agriculture,” USTM officials emphasized.
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