title: Improved growth and colchicine concentration in Gloriosa superba on mycorrhizal inoculation supplemented with phosphorus-fertilizer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gloriosa superba produces an array of alkaloids including colchicine, a compound of interest in the treatment of various diseases. The tuber of Gloriosa superba is a rich source of colchicine which has shown anti-gout, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activity. However, this promising compound remains expensive and Gloriosa superba is such a good source in global scale. Increase in yield of naturally occurring colchicine is an important area of investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of inoculation by four arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), fungi, Glomus mossae, Glomus fasciculatum, Gigaspora margarita and Gigaspora gilmorei either alone or supplemented with P-fertilizer, on colchicine concentration in Gloriosa superba were studied. The concentration of colchicine was determined by high-performance thin layer chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four fungi significantly increased concentration of colchicine in the herb. Although there was significant increase in concentration of colchicine in non-mycorrhizal P-fertilized plants as compared to control, the extent of the increase was less compared to mycorrhizal plants grown with or without P-fertilization. This suggests that the increase in colchicine concentration may not be entirely attributed to enhanced P-nutrition and improved growth. Among the four AM fungi Glomus mossae was found to be best. The total colchicine content of plant (mg / plant) was significantly high in plants inoculated with Glomus mossae and 25 mg kg(-1)phosphorus fertilizer (348.9 mg /plant) while the control contain least colchicine (177.87 mg / plant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests a potential role of AM fungi in improving the concentration of colchicine in Gloriosa superba tuber.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University.Phagwara144402, India.
authors.forename: Devendra Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University.Phagwara144402, India.
authors.forename: Tabarak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Presidency University, Kolkata.
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Lovely Professional University.Phagwara144402, India.
authors.forename: Joginder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, India.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Banik
mesh_terms: D059827:Agricultural Inoculants / Q000254:growth & development*; D000383:Agriculture; D003078:Colchicine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000502:physiology*; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D010758:Phosphorus; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhiza; Gloriosa superba; Phosphorus fertilizer; colchicine