Effects of Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera on growth and yield of essential oil in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) under greenhouse conditions

Abstract Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare ) is a very important plant in the family of Apiaceae. Effects of inoculation of two endophytic fungi ( Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera ) in growth, yield and composition of the essential oil of fennel ( F. vulgare ) were evaluated in pot cultures. Dry fruits were ground with an electric grinder and oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and their composition was determined by GC/MS. In pot experiment, the maximum dry weight of the green tissue and root and plant height were obtained with P. indica , and maximum number of umbels per plant and dry weight of 1000 fruits were produced with S. vermifera . The P. indica and S. vermifera inoculation significantly increased oil yield as compared to non‐inoculated control plants. GC and GC/MS studies revealed that the level of anethole was increased with P. indica and S. vermifera . (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)