Mycorrhizal Management

A look beneath the surface at plant establishment and growth

by Michael P. Amaranthus, Ph.D. This article originally appeared in The Spring
1999 issue of Florida Landscape Architecture Quarterly, reprinted with
permission from the author.
 

Figure 1
An
electron
microgra
ph of a
mycorrhi
za on an
evergree
n
seedling.
Mycorrhi
zal
filaments
radiate
into the
soil from
the
mycorrhi
za root
tip.
Little things run the world. This is especially true when it comes to
Figure 2 getting plants established. Under natural conditions plants live in close
Maple association with soil organisms called mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi
(Acer colonize plant roots and extend the root system into the surrounding
spp.) soil. (Figure 1.) Estimates of amounts of mycorrhizal filaments present
seedling in healthy soil are astonishing. Several miles of filaments can be
root
present in less than a thimbleful of soil associated with vigorously
systems.
The growing plants. The relationship is beneficial because the plant enjoys
seedling improved nutrient and water uptake, disease resistance and superior
on the survival and growth.
right was Nearly all commercially produced plants form mycorrhizae and require
treated the association for maximum performance in outplanted environments.
with a (Figure 2). This not-so-glorious association between plants and
mycorrhi
zal root
mycorrhizal fungi is fundamental to plant establishment and growth.
dip gel.
The Depending on the environment in which they are growing, plants may
maple divert up to 80% or more of the net energy fixed as sunlight to below-
seedling
on the
left was
an
untreate
d
control.
ground processes. Some of this energy goes into root growth; but, a high
proportion may be used to feed mycorrhizal fungi and other soil organisms. This
is not energy that is lost to the plant. On the contrary, soil organisms living in the
root zone greatly influence the ability of plants to establish through effects on
nutrient cycling, pathogens, soil aeration, and soil water uptake. Of the various
soil organisms that benefit plant establishment, the most is known about
mycorrhizal fungi. Roughly 90% of plant species are thought to form
mycorrhizae: the combination of fungal and root tissue is called the mycorrhiza
and the fungal partner is termed a mycorrhizal fungus.

Commercial production of mycorrhizal fungi for practical use has been available
in the last decade, however, the importance of mycorrhizal fungi has been
evident for some 400 million years. The earliest fossil records of the roots of
land plants contain evidence of the fossil remains of mycorrhizal fungi. Scientists
now believe that the "marriage" of mycorrhizal fungus and plant played an
essential role in the evolutionary step which brought aquatic plants from sea to
land. At some point in the evolutionary process, a filament penetrated
into the outer cells of a primitive plant root. Once there, it
accommodated itself so nicely that a new, more complex entity
emerged, the mycorrhiza. The increased absorbing area provided by
an elaborate system of fungal filaments allowed aquatic plants to
leave the marine environment and exploit a relatively harsh soil
environment. In today's man-made environments plants can be
greatly stressed and the relationship between fungus and root is
critical. Unnatural conditions such as concrete, asphalt, roadsides,
sidewalk cut outs, trenching, drain fields, air pollution, shopping
malls, business districts, and suburban developments adversely affect
the presence and abundance of mycorrhizal fungi. Figure 3
Construc
Man-made environments often suffer from compaction, top soil loss, tion sites
and the absence of quality organic matter, conditions which reduce typically
the habitat necessary for the mycorrhizal fungus to survive and thrivecompact
the soil
(Figure 3). Artificial landscapes effect the mycorrhizal relationship in
and
two fundamental ways. First, they isolate the plant from beneficial remove
mycorrhizal fungi available in natural settings and, secondly, they organic
increase plant stress and the need for water, nutrients, and soil matter
structure mediated by their below-ground "partners". and
topsoil.
These
Fortunately, recent advancements in mycorrhizal research and
practices
application have made landscape applications with mycorrhiza easy reduce
and inexpensive. New products and knowledge result in increased or
transplant survival and lower long-term maintenance. However, to be eliminate
successful the landscape contractor requires an appreciation of fungi mycorrhi
beyond itchy toes and moldy bread. zal fungi.
 How do mycorrhizal fungi work?

Mycorrhizal root systems increase the absorptive the absorbing area of

roots 10 to 1000 times thereby greatly improving the ability of the
plants to utilize the soil resource. (Figure 4). Mycorrhizal fungi are
able to absorb and transfer all of the 15 major macro and micro
nutrients necessary for plant growth. Mycorrhizal fungi release
powerful chemicals into the soil that dissolve hard to capture nutrients
such as phosphorous, iron and other "tightly bound" soil nutrients. This
extraction process is particularly important in plant nutrition and
explains why non mycorrhizal plants require high levels of fertility to
maintain their health. Mycorrhizal fungi form an intricate web that
captures and assimilates nutrients conserving the nutrient capital in
soils. In non mycorrhizal conditions much of this fertility is wasted or
lost from the system.

Mycorrhizal fungi are involved with a wide variety of other activities

Figure 4 that benefit plant establishment and growth. The same extensive
"Cut- networks of fungal filaments important to nutrient uptake are also
away"
important in water uptake and storage. In non-irrigated conditions,
view of
the root mycorrhizal plants are under far less drought stress compared to non
structure mycorrhizal plants. In a recent study, true fir seedlings treated with
of mycorrhizal inoculums had 43 percent less plant moisture stress than
conifer non-treated control seedlings on a droughty, difficult to revegetate site.
seedling Tree vigor, color and needle retention were improved with the
s, mycorrhizal treated plants (Figure 5). Rhizopogon mycorrhizae were
enhance
d and
abundant on the roots systems of the treated plants (Figure 6).
extende Numerous studies have shown Rhizopogon spp. is an aggressive
d by a colonizer in non-irrigated and harsh field conditions.
network
of
mycorrhi
Figure 6
zal
A cluster
filaments
of
.Rhizopo
gon
mycorrhi
zae. A
single
root tip
colonize
d by the         
Rhizopo
Figures 5a & 5b
gon
Red fir seedlings (Abies magnifica) outplanted on a difficult to regenerate
mycorrhi
dry site. Seedling A was treated with a mycorrhizal inoculums; seedling B
zal
was not treated. Treated seedlings averaged 43% less moisture stress
fungus
and 30% more needle retention.
will
branch Disease and pathogen suppression is another benefit for a mycorrhizal
into a plant. Mycorrhizal roots have a mantle (a tight, interwoven sock-like
densely
packed
coral-like
accumul
ation of
many
root tips.
covering of dense filaments) that acts as a physical barrier against the invasion of
root diseases. In addition, mycorrhizal fungi attack pathogen or disease
organisms entering the root zone. For example, excretions of specific antibiotics
produced by mycorrhizal fungi immobilize and kill disease organisms. Some
mycorrhizal fungi protect pine trees from Phytophora, Fusarium and
Rhizoctonia diseases. In a recent University study, pine trees were purposefully
inoculated with the common disease organism- Fusarium. Over 90% of the pine
trees died. Only the pine trees inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus
Rhizopogon survived. Survival rates for Rhizopogon treated pines exceeded 95%.

Mycorrhizal fungi also improve soil structure. Mycorrhizal filaments produce

humic compounds and organic "glues" (extracellular polysaccharides) that bind
soils into aggregates and improves soil porosity.

Soil porosity and soil structure positively influence the growth of plants by
promoting aeration, water movement into soil, root growth, and distribution. In
sandy or compacted soils the ability of mycorrhizal fungi to promote soil
structure may be more important than the seeking out of nutrients.

Does my soil already contain mycorrhizal fungi?

Soils in natural settings are full of beneficial soil organisms including

mycorrhizal fungi. Research indicates, however, many common practices can
degrade the mycorrhiza-forming potential of soil. Tillage, fertilization, removal
of topsoil, erosion, site preparation, road and home construction, fumigation,
invasion of non native plants, and leaving soils bare are some of the activities
that can reduce or eliminate these beneficial soil fungi. In many man-made
landscapes we have reduced or eliminated the soil organisms necessary for plants
to function without high levels of maintenance.

Nursery grown plants available to landscape contractors are often deficient in

mycorrhizae. Plants raised in most nurseries receive intensive care and feeding.
The artificial conditions, high levels of water and nutrients and sterile soils at the
nursery keep certain soil born diseases to a minimum and produce vast quantities
of plants for sale. Unfortunately, the high levels of water and nutrients and the
lack of mycorrhizae discourage the plant to produce the extensive root system it
will need for successful transplantation. The results are plants poorly adapted to
the eventual outplanted condition that must be weaned from intensive care
systems and begin to fend for themselves. Application of mycorrhizal inoculums
during transplanting can encourage plant establishment and set the plant on track
to feed for itself. Research studies document the need of plants to generate a
mycorrhizal roots system in order to become established. Maintaining intensive
inputs is necessary until the extensive root system is achieved. There are
practical solutions to some of the mycorrhizal deficiencies in man-made
environments and reintroducing mycorrhizal fungi in areas where they have been
depleted can dramatically improve plant establishment and growth.

What types of mycorrhizal products are available?

A landscape contractor can enhance plant root growth and transplant success and
ameliorate many problems that result from intensive care practices at the nursery.
Plants grew and thrived on this planet for millions of years without intensive
care. Nature provides the template. A more sustainable approach to plant
establishment and growth includes using mycorrhizal fungi.

Certain mycorrhizal spores or "seeds" of the fungus have been selected for their
establishment and growth-enhancing abilities. The goal is to create physical
contact between the mycorrhizal inoculant and the plant root. Mycorrhizal
inoculant can be sprinkled onto roots during transplanting, worked into seed
beds, blended into potting soil, watered in via existing irrigation systems, applied
as a root dip gel or probed into the root zone of existing plants. The type of
application depends upon the conditions and needs of the applicator. Generally,
mycorrhizal application is easy, inexpensive and requires no special equipment.
Typically for small plants the cost ranges from less than a penny to a few cents
per seedling. For larger plants more inoculums is needed and costs are higher.

Mycorrhizal products often contain other ingredients designed to increase the

effectiveness of the mycorrhizal spores. For example, organic matter is often
added to encourage microbial activity, soil structure and root growth. Stress
vitamins improve nutrient uptake and builds root biomass. Water absorbing gels
help "plaster" beneficial mycorrhizal spores in close proximity to feeder roots
and encourage favorable soil moisture conditions for mycorrhizae to form and
grow. Organic biostimulants, in general are effective ingredients in mycorrhizal
products. By promoting field competitiveness, stress resistance and nutrient
efficiency biostimulants reduce barriers for rapid mycorrhizal formation
especially during the critical period following transplanting.

Mycorrhizal diversity is important

Natural areas generally contain an array of mycorrhizal fungal species. The

proportions and abundance of mycorrhizal species often shifts following any
disturbance. Not all mycorrhizal fungi have the same capacities and tolerances.
Some are better at imparting drought resistance while others may be more
effective in protecting against pathogens or have more tolerance to soil
temperature extremes. Because of the wide variety of soil, climatic, and biotic
conditions characterizing man-made environments, it is improbable that a single
mycorrhizal fungus could benefit all host species and adapt to all conditions. For
example, the types and activities of mycorrhizal fungi associated with young
plants may be quite different from those associated with mature plants Likewise,
mycorrhizal fungi needed to help seedlings establish themselves on difficult sites
may differ from those which sustain productivity over a long-lived plant.

Diversity likely provides a buffering capacity not found on sites with only one or
few species. The diversity of mycorrhizal fungi formed by a given plant may
increase its ability to occupy diverse below-ground niches and survive a range of
chemical and physical conditions.

Conclusions

The lack of mycorrhizal fungi on plant root systems is a leading cause of poor
plant establishment and growth in a variety of forest, restoration, agricultural,
suburban and urban landscapes. As we develop holistic approaches to
understanding man-made environments we must factor in the inseparable
connections to soil organisms. Mycorrhizal fungi are one of the more important
groups of soil organisms and play a critical role in nutrient cycling, mediating
plant stress and protecting against pathogens. They are also cornerstones in the
ability of plants to survive transplant shock. Plants have co-evolved mutualistic
relationships with symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi such that their survival and
fitness depends upon the healthy functioning of these fungi and vice versa. Just
as plants invest tremendous capital in the form of energy to fuel below-ground
soil organisms, so too we must "look below the surface” to understand and
utilize these beneficial fungi.

Dr. Mike Amaranthus spent 20 years with Oregon State University and the USDA
Forest Service where he authored over 50 research papers on mycorrhizae. He is a
recipient of the USDA Department of Agriculture Highest Honors Award for scientific
achievement and has been featured on several major national and international
television programs.