In this study, the effect of Vesicular Arbrbusular Mycorrhizae (VAM) on the ex vitro hardening of marigold was investigated. A protocol was generated for ex vitro hardening of in vitro raised plantlets using VAM consortia (Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae and Scutellospora spp.) in different media mixtures, and their effect was observed on plant survival and growth. Highest percent survival (94.00), maximum plant height (39.00 cm), maximum plant spread (30.50 cm), maximum stem diameter (0.97 cm), maximum shoot fresh weight (0.75 g), maximum root fresh weight (0.46 g), maximum leaf length (10.27 cm), maximum root length (28.50 cm) and maximum leaf width (6.82 cm) were observed in treatment comprising of Soil + Vermicompost (3:1) + 20 g VAM consortia, Followed by 92.00% plant survival, 36.75 cm plant height, 29.00 cm plant spread, 0.81 cm stem diameter, 0.58 g shoot fresh weight, 0.45 g root fresh weight, 10.20 cm leaf length, 20.88 cm root length, and 6.76 cm leaf width in treatment comprising Soil + Vermicompost (1:1) + 20 g VAM consortia. While minimum percent survival (72.50%), lowest height (26.00 cm), minimum plant spread (9.50 cm), minimum stem diameter (0.49 cm), minimum shoot fresh weight (0.27 g), minimum root fresh weight (0.14 g), minimum leaf length (8.06 cm), minimum root length (10.27 cm) and minimum leaf width (3.86 cm) were observed in control media comprising of only soil. Followed by 85.00% survival, 29.25 cm plant height, 17.75 cm plant spread, 0.51 cm stem diameter, 0.34 g shoot fresh weight, 0.28g root fresh weight, 8.07 cm leaf length, 14.05 cm root length and 4.08 cm leaf width were observed in media comprising of Soil + FYM (1:1) + 10 g VAM consortia. Highest percent colonization (60.78) was showed in media comprising of Soil + Vermicompost (3:1) + 20 g VAM consortia, followed by 57.65 % in media comprising of Soil + Vermicompost (1:1) + 20 g VAM consortia. While lowest root colonization of 47.28% was found in media comprising of Soil + FYM (1:1) + 10 g VAM consortia followed by 50.37% in media comprising of Soil+ FYM (3:1) +10 g VAM consortia. Control treatment, without any VAM added, showed no root colonization. Hence, it was concluded that the treatment with a mixture of Soil + Vermicompost (3:1) with 20 g VAM consortia showed the best results in various aspects.

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