ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF RHIZOSPHERIC SOIL FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH TARAXACUM OFFICINALE L. AND MENTHA ARVENSIS L. IN DISTRICT SHOPIAN OF KASHMIR VALLEY.

The study was carried out to isolate and identify the various rhizospheric fungi associated with two medicinally important plants- viz Taraxacum officinale L. and Mentha arvensis L. These associated fungi directly or indirectly help the plant in various metabolic processes like accumulation of various primary and secondary metabolites. The most fungal species isolated and characterized from Taraxacum officinale include Rhizopus stolonifer, Pencillium, chrysogenum, Fusarium oxysporum, and the fungal species isolated from Mentha arvensis include Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor mucedo, and Pencillium chrysogenum. The relative association frequency of these fungi with the concerned plants differs from fungi to fungi and also with the plant species. Among all the isolated fungi species Rhizopus stolonifer was found to possess highest association frequency with both the plant species.