Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Commercial products containing propagules of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widely marketed to improve woody plant performance in the landscape. However, the infectivity of these products has rarely been subjected to independent testing. We evaluated commercial AMF inoculants in a series of greenhouse experiments using corn (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), trident maple (Acer buergerianum), and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) as host plants. In corn and sorghum, colonization rarely exceeded 5% when plants were treated with commercial inoculants. In contrast, viable lab-cultured inoculant of similar species composition yielded mean colonization percentages of 38 to 61%. Despite the near absence of colonization, commercial inoculants generally improved shoot growth and increased soil nutrient concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Commercial inoculants had no effect on mycorrhizal colonization or shoot growth of trident maple or sweetbay magnolia liners. Product-treated magnolias grown from seed also developed little or no mycorrhizal colonization, whereas plants treated with a lab-cultured inoculant were 74% colonized. If commercial AMF inoculants are to receive broad acceptance as landscape soil amendments, manufacturers must demonstrate that their products can promote mycorrhizal colonization under the conditions of their intended distribution and use.
Authors: P. Eric Wiseman, Kristen H. Colvin, Christina E. Wells
Institution: Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W834096528