TERI’s Mycorrhizal Platforms: Advancing Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture

TERI’s work on mycorrhiza is anchored in the long-standing scientific foundation of the Centre for Mycorrhizal Culture Collection (CMCC), a Mycorrhizal Bioresources Centre established as part of the Mycorrhiza Network at TERI. CMCC manages a next-generation germplasm bank and supports mycorrhizal research across India. The center currently houses extensive collections of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), and arbuscular mycorrhiza-associated bacteria sourced from diverse soil types.

Building on this robust germplasm and research base, TERI developed advanced in vitro mass production technology to produce healthy, genetically pure, and pathogen-free mycorrhizal propagules. This innovation led to the establishment of a large-scale production facility at Gual Pahadi, Gurugram. Equipped with state-of-the-art systems and next-generation infrastructure, the facility maintains a production capacity capable of benefiting more than 2 million hectares of farmland.

Through its Centre for Mycorrhizal Research (CMR), TERI has successfully translated these scientific and production capabilities into mycorrhiza-based biofertilizer technologies and advanced formulations. These include crop- and region-specific products that leverage mycorrhizal systems and associated microbiomes for synergistic effects, improved field performance, reduced chemical inputs, and enhanced soil health. Outreach now spans 16 Indian states, supporting cereals, pulses, oilseeds, horticulture, and cash crops, while also boosting agricultural productivity in the Middle East—thereby reinforcing the pivotal role of mycorrhiza in advancing global sustainable agriculture.