Influence of Combined NPK and Manure on Improving Growth, Photosynthetic Characteristic and Yield of Justicia gendarussa Burm. F.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Justicia gendarussa </i>(family <i>Acanthaceae</i>) is regarded as a medicinal plant valued for its beneficial pharmacological activities. A polybag experiment has been conducted at Bogor (Indonesia) to determine the effects on growth, photosynthetic and yield of various NPK ratios and manure fertilizer application in <i>J. gendarussa</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Six treatments (control: 50 g/plant manure, NPK (1.1 g/plant N:0.7 g/plant P₂O₅ and 0.6 g/plant K), 50+50%/plant (manure+NPK), 10+50%/plant (manure+NPK) and 50+10%/plant (manure+NPK) were performed in a randomized complete block design. Data of individual plants were extracted from various treatments: plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, yield and sugar content were collected. <b>Results:</b> The plant treated with 10+50%/plant (manure+NPK) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in plant height, number of leaves and number of branches with the value of 59.00 cm, 85.00 per plant and 9.50 per plant, respectively. Chlorophyll a (0.538 mg g¹ FW), chlorophyll b (0.192 mg g¹ FW) and total chlorophyll (0.730 mg g¹ FW) were significantly improved by the treatment of NPK fertilizer. The application of manure and NPK at (50+50%) and (50+10%) was significantly increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, respectively. Leaves yield (9 g/plant DW) was improved by the application of 10+50%/plant (manure+NPK) fertilizer. The highest sugar content was obtained from <i>J. gendarussa</i> growth with 50+50%/plant (manure+NPK) followed by 10+50% plant (manure+NPK) fertilizer. <b>Conclusion:</b> The <i>J. gendarussa</i> plants could benefit from combined manure and NPK fertilizer application in growth, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate, leaves yield and sugar content.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza-like biotechnological potential of Piriformospora indica, which promotes the growth of Adhatoda vasica Nees

We report the growth promoting potential of Piriformospora indica, which is a newly discovered arbuscular mycorrhiza-like fungus. It is a facultative symbiont and unlike arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, it can be cultured in vitro. Adhatoda vasica is a medicinal plant. Rapid proliferation of roots was recorded in A. vasica withan important root colonization estimated to 95 percent after 6 months. P. indica improved growth of A. vasica. This association forms a new host-symbiont combination.