Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Tolerance to Water Deficit in Indian Pennywort (Centella asiatica) by Promoting Physio-morphological and Biochemical Adaptations

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a consortium of symbiont fungi present in the root zone of plants, which provide phosphorus and enhance the soil water holding capacity, resulting in low-cost input for plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to promote growth and development of Indian pennywort (Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.) via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-regulated water deficit tolerance. One-month-old stolon propagated stocks were cultivated under greenhouse conditions by following a regular irrigation schedule for a month. Two treatments of soil samples were prepared: i) sterilized soil—AMF and ii) sterilized soil + AMF. Three water regimes, (i) well-watering (control; 95