Pornpicha PitaktamrongJeerun KingkaewSuravoot YooyongwechSuriyan Cha-UmMuenduen PhisalaphongChulalongkorn UniversityMahidol UniversityThailand National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology2019-08-232019-08-232018-12-04Engineering Journal. Vol.22, No.6 (2018), 65-79012582812-s2.0-85060284558https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/45781© 2018, Chulalongkorn University. All rights reserved. A novel formulation consisting of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores mixed with sterilized organic fertilizer (AMF-F) encapsulated by an insoluble calcium alginate film was developed to enhance AMF efficacy and stability. The hardness of the pellets increased from 7–8 N to approximately 80 N by increasing the alginate concentration of the coating film from 1 to 3%. The AMF spore germination rate for the AMF and AMF-F pellets coated with calcium alginate films depended on the alginate concentration. A 2% sodium alginate formulation for the coating films resulted in optimal AMF spore germination rates and mechanical properties for handling, transport, and stability. The inclusion of a sterilized organic fertilizer in the encapsulated AMF-F pellets considerably induced AMF mycelial growth and helped prolong the shelf life of the pellets. In soil, the AMF-F pellets encapsulated with alginate (cAMF-F) initially degraded faster than the alginate-encapsulated AMF pellets (cAMF). However, both types of pellets were fully degraded within 30 days. It was demonstrated that cAMF and cAMF-F could promote colonization and provided resistance to drought stress in maize potted plants.Mahidol UniversityEngineeringArticleSCOPUS10.4186/ej.2018.22.6.65