Does percent root length colonization and soil hyphal length reflect the extent of colonization for all AMF?

Percent root length colonization may not be an appropriate measure of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in all cases. We suggest that AMF will differ in how well percent root length colonization measures the amount of AMF colonization in the root due to differences among AMF in hyphal structure and hyphal aggregation. Although soil hyphal length accounts for hyphal density, we suggest that it does not consider differences in hyphal structure in measurements of external colonization and thus might also misrepresent the true amount of AMF in the soil. To test these suggestions, we measured and compared percent root length colonization and soil hyphal length with root ergosterol and soil ergosterol, respectively, for 21 different species of AMF from three families in a greenhouse experiment. Percent root length colonization predicted intra-radical colonization best for Glomaceae and Acaulosporaceae isolates, while soil hyphal length best represented soil ergosterol for Gigasporaceae isolates. The results show that conventional methods for estimating AMF colonization are not universal for all AMF. Caution is advised when drawing inferences for different groups of AMF.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Populus-Salix stands in a semiarid riparian ecosystem

This study examined the activity, species richness, and species composition of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) community of Populus-Salix stands on the Verde River (Arizona, USA), quantified patterns of AMF richness and colonization along complex floodplain gradients, and identified environmental variables responsible for structuring the AMF community. Samples from 61 Populus-Salix stands were analyzed for AMF and herbaceous composition, AMF colonization, gravimetric soil moisture, soil texture, per cent organic matter, pH, and concentrations of nitrate, bicarbonate phosphorus and exchangeable potassium. AMF species richness declined with stand age and distance from and elevation above the channel and was positively related to perennial species cover and richness and gravimetric soil moisture. Distance from and elevation above the active channel, forest age, annual species cover, perennial species richness, and exchangeable potassium concentration all played a role in structuring the AMF community in this riparian area. Most AMF species were found across a wide range of soil conditions, but a subset of species tended to occur more often in hydric areas. This group of riparian affiliate AMF species includes several not previously encountered in the surrounding Sonoran desert.     

Relationships between the litter colonization by saprotrophic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with depth in a tropical forest

Fungal colonization of litter has been described mostly in terms of fructification succession in the decomposition process or the process of fungal ligninolysis. No studies have been conducted on litter colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their relationship with the presence of saprotrophic fungi. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationships that exist in simultaneous leaf litter colonization by AMF and saprotrophic fungi and the relationships between rates of litter and associated root colonization by AMF at different soil depths. We selected Eugenia sp. and Syzygium sp. in a riparian tropical forest, with an abundant production of litter (O horizon), we evaluated litter and root colonization at different depths, its C:N ratios, and the edaphic physico-chemical parameters of the A horizon immediately below the litter layer. Litter colonization by saprotrophic fungi and AMF increased with depth, but the saprotrophic fungal colonization of some litter fragments decreased in the lowermost level of the litter while AMF litter colonization continued to increase. Plant roots were present only in the middle and bottom layers, but their mycorrhizal colonization did not correlate with litter colonization. The external hyphae length of AMF is abundant (ca. 20 m g(-1) sample) and, in common with sample humidity, remained constant with increasing depth. We conclude that in zones of riparian tropical forest with abundant sufficient litter accumulation and abundant AMF external hyphae, the increase in litter colonization by AMF with depth correlates to the colonization by saprotrophic fungi, but their presence in the deepest layers is independent of both litter colonization by saprotrophic fungi and root colonization by AMF.     

Mycorrhizae and succession in plantings of beachgrass in sand dunes

A survey of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), and hyphal networks of AMF was carried out in sand dune sites of different successional stages in the Province Lands Area of Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. The study focused on large-scale plantings (each of 12–20 ha) of American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) aged 0–7 yr and five adjacent natural dune areas. Sample sites ranged in vegetative cover from barren to forested. Spores of 17 species of AMF were recovered from the dunes. Over the successional sequence, there were increases in the richness and spore populations of the AMF community, the extent of colonization of A. breviligulata roots, and the mycorrhizal inoculum potential of the soil. Unvegetated sites lacked propagules of AMF, but roots of planted culms of A. breviligulata (which carried propagules of AMF) became mycorrhizal in <1 yr after planting. Spores were recovered from previously AMF-free sites that had been planted with beachgrass for 47 wk, and five species of AMF sporulated in sites <6 yr old. Significant hyphal networks were not present in any of the planted areas (<6 yr old at the time of sampling), but did occur in natural areas. The rate of invasion of areas planted to A. breviligulata by later successional plant species may in part depend upon the establishment of a vigorous network of hyphae of AMF in a site.     

Seasonal changes of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as affected by tillage practices and fertilization : Hyphal density and mycorrhizal root colonization

The influence of tillage practices on native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was studied in two, consecutive years in eastern Canada, in two 11 year-old long-term tillage-fertilizer experimental field soils, a sandy loam and a clay, growing corn in monoculture. The three tillage practices were: 1) conventional tillage (CT; fall plowing plus spring disking), reduced tillage (RT; spring disking) and no-till (NT). The corn crop received either inorganic (N and K) or organic (liquid dairy manure) fertilizers. Mycorrhizal hyphal density was estimated from soil samples obtained in early spring (before disking), at the 12–14 leaf stage, at silking, and at harvest. The percentage of corn root colonization by AMF at the 12–14 leaf stage, at silking and at harvest was also determined. The sandy loam was sampled over two consecutive seasons and the clay soil over one season.Densities of total and metabolically active soil hyphae, and mycorrhizal root colonization were significantly lower in CT soil than in RT and NT soil. Lowest soil hyphal densities were observed in early spring. The levels of intra- and extraradical fungal colonization always increased from spring to silking and decreased thereafter. Spring disking had only a small and transient negative effect on hyphal abundance in soil. Fertilization did not influence mycorrhizal colonization of corn or abundance of soil hyphae in the sandy loam soil, but in the clay soil metabolically active hyphae were more abundant with manure application than with mineral fertilization. In 1992, in both soils different tillage systems had same grain yield, however, in 1993, corn yield was higher in NT compared to CT system.     

Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of two species of floodplain willows

To understand the relationships between the distribution of Chosenia arbutifolia and Salix sachalinensis and their mycorrhizal colonization, changes in the quality and types of ectomycorrhizas and arbuscular mycorrhizas of the seedlings of two species were studied at five different sites with different soil conditions in the floodplain of the Satsunai River, Hokkaido. High ectomycorrhizal and low arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization were found in roots of both plants. Ectomycorrhizal colonization of S. sachalinensis in wet sandy or muddy soil conditions was at the same level as that in dry gravelly sites. In contrast, ectomycorrhizal colonization of C. arbutifolia seedlings was lower from wet sandy sites than that from dry gravelly sites. In all study sites, the same three morphological types of ectomycorrhizas were dominant.     

Mycorrhizae formation and nutrient uptake of new corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids with extreme canopy and leaf architecture as influenced by soil N and P levels

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of N and P supply levels on mycorrhizal formation and nutrient uptake in corn hybrids with different architectures and to determine arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) development in relation to shoot N/P ratio and shoot:root ratio. Corn pot cultures with a pasteurized medium of two parts sand and one part sandy loam soil were grown in the greenhouse. Marigold plants inoculated or not with Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith were used to establish an AMF hyphal network in the designated soil pots. Corn hybrids were seeded after removal of the marigold plant. Mycorrhizal colonization of corn hybrids and the quantity of extraradical hyphae produced in soil were greatest at the lowest P level and at the intermediate N level. Root colonization was correlated with shoot N/P ratio only at the intermediate N level. The shoot concentrations of P, Mg, Zn and Cu were significantly higher in mycorrhizal plants than in non-mycorrhizal plants. The corn phenotype with the highest shoot:root ratio had the highest root colonization. The corn hybrid with a leafy normal stature architecture had a greater mycorrhizal colonization than that of other two corn hybrids. This experiment showed that N level in soil influenced shoot N/P ratio, root colonization and extraradical hyphal production, which in turn influenced uptake of other nutrients. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Organic and mineral fertilization, respectively, increase and decrease the development of external mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a long-term field experiment

Effects of long-term mineral fertilization and manuring on the biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were studied in a field experiment. Mineral fertilization reduced the growth of AMF, as estimated using both measurements of hyphal length and the signature fatty acid 16:1ω5, whereas manuring alone increased the growth of AMF. The results of AMF root colonization followed the same pattern as AMF hyphal length in soil samples, but not AMF spore densities, which increased with increasing mineral and organic fertilization. AMF spore counts and concentration of 16:1ω5 in soil did not correlate positively, suggesting that a significant portion of spores found in soil samples was dead. AMF hyphal length was not correlated with whole cell fatty acid (WCFA) 18:2ω6,9 levels, a biomarker of saprotrophic fungi, indicating that visual measurements of the AMF mycelium were not distorted by erroneous involvement of hyphae of saprotrophs. Our observations indicate that the measurement of WCFAs in soil is a useful research tool for providing information in the characterization of soil microflora.     

Soil aggregation and carbon sequestration are tightly correlated with the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: results from long-term field experiments

We examined the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in ecosystems using soil aggregate stability and C and N storage as representative ecosystem processes. We utilized a wide gradient in AMF abundance, obtained through long-term (17 and 6 years) large-scale field manipulations. Burning and N-fertilization increased soil AMF hyphae, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) pools and water-stable macroaggregates while fungicide applications reduced AMF hyphae, GRSP and water-stable macroaggregates. We found that AMF abundance was a surprisingly dominant factor explaining the vast majority of variability in soil aggregation. This experimental field study, involving long-term diverse management practices of native multispecies prairie communities, invariably showed a close positive correlation between AMF hyphal abundance and soil aggregation, and C and N sequestration. This highly significant linear correlation suggests there are serious consequences to the loss of AMF from ecosystems.     

Effect of defoliation on the arbuscular mycorrhizas of three perennial pasture and rangeland grasses

The effect of different frequencies of defoliation on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization and external hyphae production of three perennial grass species growing in pot culture in a non-sterile soil was investigated. Roots were assessed by acid fuschin staining and succinate dehydrogenase activity to obtain measurements of total and metabolically active AMF colonization. The grass species, Digitaria eriantha, Lolium perenne and Themeda triandra are of similar bunch morphology and responded to defoliation with massive root death. In Themeda defoliation was also associated with a decline in leaf growth rate, phosphorus accumulation in new leaf tissue, AMF colonization and external hyphae densities. In Digitaria and Lolium, AMF colonization declined but external hyphal densities were unaffected by defoliation frequency. In these two species phosphorus accumulation and leaf regrowth rates were also unchanged by defoliation. Only in Lolium did defoliation result in slightly more inactive AMF colonization. The results suggest that Lolium and Digitaria which are pasture species are better able to compensate for root loss following fairly frequent defoliation by maintaining an external AMF hyphal network. Themeda, a rangeland grass, which is more intolerant of grazing, has a lower capacity for sustaining its hyphal network when defoliated. Grazing is therefore likely to affect community dynamics because of variable effects of defoliation frequency on the mycorrhizal symbiosis of different plant species.     

Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Uptake of Phosphorus and Nitrogen From Soil

Abstract

Colonization of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can greatly increase the plant uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen. The most prominent contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to plant growth is due to uptake of nutrients by extraradical mycorrhizal hyphae. Quantification of hyphal nutrient uptake has become possible by the use of soil boxes with separated growing zones for roots and hyphae. Many (but not all) tested fungal isolates increased phosphorus and nitrogen uptake of the plant by absorbing phosphate, ammonium, and nitrate from soil. However, compared with the nutrient demand of the plant for growth, the contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to plant phosphorus uptake is usually much larger than the contribution to plant nitrogen uptake. The utilization of soil nutrients may depend more on efficient uptake of phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium from the soil solution even at low supply concentrations than on mobilization processes in the hyphosphere. In contrast to ectomycorrhizal fungi, nonsoluble nutrient sources in soil are used only to a limited extent by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Side effects of mycorrhizal colonization on, for example, plant health or root activity may also influence plant nutrient uptake.     

6种外生菌根真菌对西南桦幼苗的接种效应

【背景】西南桦是兼具内生、外生菌根的典型菌根营养型树种,菌根化育苗是其壮苗培育的有效措施。【目的】揭示外生菌根真菌对西南桦无性系幼苗生长和养分含量的影响,为其菌根化育苗筛选优良外生菌根真菌提供科学依据。【方法】以BY1、FB4、FB4+和A5等4个西南桦优良无性系为研究对象,选用土生空团菌(Cenococcumgeophilum)、松乳菇(Lactariusdeliciosus)、黄硬皮马勃(Scleroderma flavidum)、多根硬皮马勃(S. polyrhizum)、褐环乳牛肝菌(Suillus luteus)和红绒盖牛肝菌(Xerocomuschrysenteron)6个外生菌根真菌进行盆栽接种试验,分析接种处理间及无性系间苗高、地径、生物量以及养分含量差异。【结果】6个菌种均能与西南桦无性系幼苗形成外生菌根共生体,接种多根硬皮马勃与黄硬皮马勃显著促进了幼苗生长和养分吸收(P0.05),说明其与幼苗的亲和力明显优于其它菌种。尽管菌根侵染率在4个无性系之间无显著差异(P≥0.05),但各菌种对FB4、BY1幼苗生长的促进作用显著强于其它2个无性系。【结论】多根硬皮马勃和黄硬皮马勃可作为西南桦菌根化育苗的优选菌种。     

Artificial climate warming positively affects arbuscular mycorrhizae but decreases soil aggregate water stability in an annual grassland

Despite the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizae to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems (e.g. nutrient uptake, soil aggregation), and the increasing evidence of global warming, responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to climate warming are poorly understood. In a field experiment using infrared heaters, we found effects of warming on AMF after one growing season in an annual grassland, in the absence of any effects on measured root parameters (weight, length, average diameter). AMF soil hyphal length was increased by over 40% in the warmed plots, accompanied by a strong trend for AMF root colonization increase. In the following year, root weight was again not significantly changed, and AMF root colonization increased significantly in the warmed plots. Concentration of the soil protein glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by AMF hyphae with importance in soil aggregation, was decreased in the warmed plots. Soil aggregate water stability, measured for five diameter size classes, was also decreased significantly. In the following year, soil aggregate weight in two size classes was decreased significantly, but the effect size was very small. These results indicate that ecosystem warming may have stimulated carbon allocation to AMF. Other factors either influenced glomalin decomposition or production, hence influencing the role of these symbionts in soil aggregation. The observed small changes in soil aggregation, if widespread among terrestrial ecosystems, could have important consequences for soil carbon storage and erosion in a warmed climate, especially if there are cumulative effects of warming.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with vegetation and soil parameters under rest grazing management in a desert steppe ecosystem

The impact of rest grazing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the interactions of AMF with vegetation and soil parameters under rest grazing condition were investigated between spring and late summer in a desert steppe ecosystem with different grazing managements (rest grazing with different lengths of resting period, banned or continuous grazing) in Inner Mongolia, China. AMF diversity and colonization, vegetation biomass, soil properties and soil phosphatase activity were examined. In rest grazing areas of 60 days, AMF spore number and diversity index at a 0–10 cm soil depth as well as vesicular and hyphal colonization rates were higher compared with other grazing treatments. In addition, soil organic matter and total N contents were highest and soil alkaline phosphatase was most active under 60-day rest grazing. In August and September, these areas also had the highest amount of aboveground vegetation. The results indicated that resting grazing for an appropriate period of time in spring has a positive effect on AMF sporulation, colonization and diversity, and that under rest grazing conditions, AMF parameters are positively correlated with some soil characteristics.     

Soil mycorrhizal and nematode diversity vary in response to bioenergy crop identity and fertilization

The mandate by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to increase renewable fuel production in the USA has resulted in extensive research into the sustainability of perennial bioenergy crops such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and miscanthus (Miscanthus× giganteus). Perennial grassland crops have been shown to support greater aboveground biodiversity and ecosystem function than annual crops. However, management considerations, such as what crop to plant or whether to use fertilizer, may alter belowground diversity and ecosystem functioning associated with these grasslands as well. In this study, we compared crop type (switchgrass or miscanthus) and nitrogen fertilization effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) and soil nematode abundance, activity, and diversity in a long‐term experiment. We quantified AMF root colonization, AMF extra‐radical hyphal length, soil glomalin concentrations, AMF richness and diversity, plant‐parasitic nematode abundance, and nematode family richness and diversity in each treatment. Mycorrhizal activity and diversity were higher with switchgrass than with miscanthus, leading to higher potential soil carbon contributions via increased hyphal growth and glomalin production. Plant‐parasitic nematode (PPN) abundance was 2.3 ×  higher in miscanthus plots compared to switchgrass, mostly due to increases in dagger nematodes (Xiphinema). The higher PPN abundance in miscanthus may be a consequence of lower AMF in this species, as AMF can provide protection against PPN through a variety of mechanisms. Nitrogen fertilization had minor negative effects on AMF and nematode diversity associated with these crops. Overall, we found that crop type and fertilizer application associated with perennial bioenergy cropping systems can have detectable effects on the diversity and composition of soil communities, which may have important consequences for the ecosystem services provided by these systems.     

Inoculation of grass and tree seedlings used for reclaiming eroded areas in Iceland with mycorrhizal fungi

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of plant species used for reclamation of eroded areas in Iceland to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi. In a greenhouse trial,Leymus arenarius andDeschampsia beringensis were grown in pots with volcanic ash collected from a site near the Mt. Hekla volcano in Iceland and were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) isolatesGlomus mosseae BEG25 orGlomus intraradices BEG75. In two field experiments conducted on volcanic tephra fields near Mt. Hekla, a native soil inoculum or commercial inocula TerraVital-D and Terra Vital-G Ecto Mix were compared for efficacy onL. arenarius andBetula pubescens. After four months of growth, the presence of AMF in the pot experiment significantly increased the capacity of grass root systems to bind soil particles. In the field, inoculation significantly increased the number ofL. arenarius plants, which emerged from seed and their subsequent survival and growth. Seedlings ofB. pubescens grew best following inoculation with ectomycorrhizal fungal (ECMF) inoculum and a subsequent application of inorganic NP-fertilizer. The addition of native soil inoculum had almost no effect on growth of either grass or trees. Our results indicate that reclamation of eroded areas in Iceland could benefit from the use of a ppropriate mycorrhizal fungi, which might improve plant establishment and growth and increase soil aggregation and stability.     

Flavonoid levels in roots ofMedicago sativa are modulated by the developmental stage of the symbiosis and the root colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

Abundant data on the effect of flavonoids on spore germination, hyphal growth and root colonization by AMF are available. Moreover, the flavonoid pattern in mycorrhizal roots changes, thus flavonoids have been suggested as arbuscular mycorrhizal signalling compounds. In our work we studied the accumulation of flavonoids in roots of Medicago sativa i) after the exposure of uncolonized roots to sterile solutions containing Glomus intraradices tissue, ii) at three different stages of colonization by G. mosseae, iii) colonized by G. mosseae, G. intraradices or Gigaspora rosea.

We could show that flavonoid accumulation in M. sativa roots i) is induced before root colonization, pointing towards the presence of a fungal-derived signal, ii) depends on the developmental stage of the symbiosis and iii) depends on the root-colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. The data presented indicate not only a time-specificity of the flavonoid accumulation during the mycorrhizal association, but also an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal-specificity. The possible functions of the flavonoid pattern changes are discussed.     

Root fungal symbionts interact with mammalian herbivory, soil nutrient availability and specific habitat conditions

Herbivory, competition and soil fertility interactively shape plant communities and exhibit an important role in modifying conditions for host-dependent fungal symbionts. However, field studies on the combined impacts of natural herbivory, competition and soil fertility on root fungal symbionts are rare. We asked how mammalian herbivory, fertilization, liming and plant–plant competition affect the root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi of the dicot herb, Solidago virgaurea. The 2-year full-factorial experiment was conducted in two contrasting habitats: non-acidic and acidic mountain tundra. We found that herbivory increased arbuscular colonization (i.e. the site of resource exchange) at fertile non-acidic sites, where vegetation was rich in species having AMF symbionts, whereas at infertile acidic sites, where plants having AMF symbiont are scarce, the response was the opposite. Herbivory of the host plant negatively affected DSE hyphal and sclerotial colonization in unfertilized plots, possibly due to reduced carbon flow from the host plant while there was no effect of herbivory in fertilized plots. DSE colonization was highest in unfertilized exclosures where soil nutrient concentrations were also lowest. Liming had a negative effect on DSE hyphal colonization, and its effect also interacted with herbivory and the habitat. Biomass removal of the neighboring plants did not affect the root colonization percent of either arbuscules or DSE. Our results show that the impacts of aboveground mammalian herbivory, soil nutrient availability and specific habitat conditions on belowground root fungal symbionts are highly dependent on each other. Arbuscule response to herbivory appeared to be regulated by specific habitat conditions possibly caused by differences in the AMF availability in the soil while DSE response was associated with availability of host-derived carbon. Our result of the relationship between herbivory and soil nutrients suggests an important role of DSE in ecosystem processes.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizae respond to elevated atmospheric CO2 after long-term exposure: evidence from a CO2 spring in New Zealand supports the resource balance model

The resource balance model predicts that under elevated atmospheric CO₂, plants should preferentially allocate photosynthate to acquiring below-ground resources. Only short-term experiments are available to test this hypothesis, while long-term responses are really of interest in global change ecology. Arbuscular mycorrhizae represent one mode of below-ground nutrient acquisition available to the vast majority of plants. Percent root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), AMF soil hyphal length, and soil concentrations of the AMF protein glomalin increased linearly along a CO₂ gradient provided in a grassland by a CO₂ spring in Northland, New Zealand. These results are an important confirmation of numerous short-term studies, and present the first test of the resource balance model, applied to AMF, after long-term elevated CO₂ exposure.     

The mycorrhizal status and colonization of 26 tree species growing in urban and rural environments

Urban environments are highly disturbed and fragmented ecosystems that commonly have lower mycorrhizal fungal species richness and diversity compared to rural or natural ecosystems. In this study, we assessed whether the mycorrhizal status and colonization of trees are influenced by the overall environment (rural vs. urban) they are growing in. Soil cores were collected from the rhizosphere of trees growing in urban and rural environments around southern Ontario. Roots were extracted from the soil cores to determine whether the trees were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, or both, and to quantify the percent colonization of each type of mycorrhizal fungi. All 26 tree species were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and seven tree species were dually colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Overall, arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungal colonization was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in trees growing in urban compared to rural environments. It is not clear what ‘urban’ factors are responsible for the reduction in mycorrhizal fungal colonization; more research is needed to determine whether inoculating urban trees with mycorrhizal fungi would increase colonization levels and growth of the trees.