VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA - APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE

This chapter discusses some of the methods used for exploiting the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in agriculture. The first step towards application of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal technology is to obtain a good starter culture. Another approach is to isolate spores of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from soil by wet sieving and decanting technique. Such spores must be checked for the occurrence of mycoparasites. They are then surface sterilized and introduced into pot cultures by the use of the funnel technique. These pot cultures can be maintained in a greenhouse on a suitable host. Techniques are available for the production of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum in an almost sterile environment through nutrient film techniques, circulation hydroponic culture systems, aeroponic culture systems, root organ culture, and tissue culture. Pot cultures are complex systems comprising host plants, mycorrhizal fungi, soil microflora and microfauna, and supporting soil. Soil cultures can sometimes harbor root pathogens and thus can act as a source of disease. The chapter further explains greenhouse sanitation and mycorrhizal dependency of plants. © 1992 Academic Press Limited