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Mycorrhizal Fungus Overview Endomycorrhizal Fungus for Annuals Ectomycorrhizal Fungus for Perennials Plants by Mycorrhizal Type Complex Relationships Endomycorrhizal Inoculation Ectomycorrhizal Inoculation Cultivation Fungal Bio-controls***************************************************
Beneficial mycorrhizal fungi are naturally present and have a mutualistic relationship with many plants. In this mutualistic relationship, carbohydrates are transported down the plant root, where the fungus steals some for their own growth. In return, the fungus frees up nutrients (especially phosphorus) and helps pull them up into the plant. The fungus and the plant need each other to thrive. Beneficial fungus also produce natural antibiotics which help to suppress harmful bacteria.
***************************************************Endomycorrhizal Fungus for Annuals:
This fungus, also called vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, is appropriate for most annuals and some perennials. It is present in undisturbed soil as long as it has roots to feed on. It blooms underground and produces spores which are not easily spread by the wind, but are spread by insects, birds, animals, etc.
***************************************************Ectomycorrhizal Fungus for Perennials:
Ectomycorrhizal fungus produce mushrooms that spread by wind blown spores. They mostly form relationships with woody or perennial plants.
***************************************************Plants by Mycorrhizal Type:
Below are lists of plants grouped by mycorrhizal type. There are many exceptions, which will be discussed afterward.
Mycorrhizae.com Fungi.com Bio-organics.com Oklahoma State NIFG - fungal relations
***************************************************Complex Relationships:
Fungal relationships are very complex. Almost all plants can be endo and ecto if grown next to a proper host plant. ( "Mycorrhizal Symbiosis by Sally E. Smith and David J. Read"). And, plants that are naturally both endo and ectomycorrhizal can tie the two networks together; mainly willow, cottonwood, aspen, walnut.
PLOS ONE - mycorrhizal network shared across many plants Nature - Complex Plant Fungus Networks Willow, Cottonwod, Aspen, Walnut - have both ecto and endo Alder - narrow, host specific Grapes switch to ectomycorrhizal Brassica and ectomycorrhizae Brassica can be mycorrhizal if planted next to a host plant
***************************************************Endomycorrhizal Inoculation:
The major disadvantage of commercial fungal inoculant is that these introduced non-native fungus are almost always overwhelmed and replaced by native fungus. These commercial inoculants may not even survive the soil, PH, climate, etc. long enough to be replaced by native fungi. Commercial inoculant is seldom necessary unless soil has been greatly disturbed and undisturbed soil cannot be found. Make your own inoculant instead.
Homemade Arbuscular inoculant from roots Arbuscular fungus are obligate biotrophic symbionts Introduced Mycorrhizal persistance Indigenous mycorrhizae
Crops which encourage the widest range of mycorrhizal fungus: Sorghum - Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (C4) and Leek - Allium porrum (L.).
Crops which encourage the highest numbers of mycorrhizal fugus: pea, Lentil, barley, bean.
If you are planning on using local soils to inoculate new plantings with, it might be a good idea to use one of these labs to test the source of your inoculant. And then of course, test your new plantings the next year to make sure everything has transferred over.
Soil Food Web
***************************************************Ectomycorrhizal Inoculation:
For ectomycorrhizal fungus you can gather safe mushrooms within a reasonable distance of your orchard planting site to inoculate with.
Ectomycorrhizal Submerged Fermentation Paul Stamets - Mycelium Running Homemade Ectomycorrhizal Spore Slurry SunSeed - practical ideas for self made inoculant Ectomycorrhizal slurry
***************************************************Cultivation:
FAO - Making Money by Growing Mushrooms UN - Mushroom Cultivation Advanced Cultivation of Mushrooms Thunderstorms encourage fungal fruiting
***************************************************Gabe Brown - seedlings start best with mycorrhizal fungusFungal Bio-Controls:
Trichoderma sp.: A beneficial fungus that can be applied as a bio-control agent.
ATTRA - Trichoderma
Suppress harmful fungus by growing Brassica nigra or B. juncea in rotation.
GCIRC - Fumigation effect of Brassica roots Kentucky State - Brassica juncea - Pacific Gold Cornell - incorporation of Brassica Scientific American - Aspergillus flavus to suppress aflatoxin
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