Effect of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ofagrobacterium radiobacter on maize growth

An influence of dual inoculation with the rhizosphere bacteriumAgrobacterium radiobacter, and the VAM fungi,Glomus mosseae andGlomus sp., on maize growth and mycorrhizal infection was observed. Separate inoculations of bacteria or fungi showed significant positive effects on the shoot biomass production of pot-cultured plants only at the last of three consecutive harvests. Plant biomass production was enhanced substantially after a dual inoculation with bacteria and fungi. Synergistic interaction of fungal and bacterial inoculation and growth stimulation was evident at all three harvests compared to uninoculated plants and also compared to plants inoculated with fungi or bacteria only. The dual inoculation increased the shoot biomass of plants by approximately 30% as compared with control. No significant differences were found in mycorrhizal infection between plants uninoculated and inoculated with bacteria.Agrobacterium radiobacter seems to be compatible with mycorrhizal symbiosis and can act a synergistic partner of some VAM fungi.     

Effects of NaCl and Mycorrhizal Fungi on Antioxidative Enzymes in Soybean

The effects of different concentrations of NaCl on the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the shoots and roots of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr cv. Pershing) inoculated or not with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, were studied. Furthermore, the effect of salt acclimated mycorrhizal fungi on the antioxidative enzymes in soybean plants grown under salt stress (100 mM NaCl) was investigated. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were increased in the shoots of both mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants grown under NaCl salinity. Salinity increased SOD activity in the roots of M and NM plants, but had no effect on CAT and polyphenol oxidase activities in the roots. M plants had greater SOD, POD and ascorbate peroxidase activity under salinity. Under salt stress, soybean plants inoculated with salt pre-treated mycorrhizal fungi showed increased SOD and POD activity in shoots, relative to those inoculated with the non pre-treated fungi.     

Effects of simultaneous infections of endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of their shared host grass Achnatherum sibiricum under varying N and P supply

Grasses can be infected by endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi simultaneously. Here, we investigated the interactions of a native grass, Achnatherum sibiricum, with both endophytic and AM fungi (Glomus mosseae, GM and Glomus etunicatum, GE) at different nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels. The results showed that endophyte infection significantly suppressed the colonization rates and spore density of GE, but had no effect on those of GM. Endophyte infection increased shoot biomass regardless of the nutrient conditions. The effects of AM fungi on host growth were dependent on mycorrhizal species. There was no significant interaction between endophytic fungi and GE on host growth; however, a significant interaction between endophytic fungi and GE occurred in total phenolic concentrations and P uptake. As for GM, a significant interaction among endophytic fungi, AM fungi and nutrient availability occurred in shoot growth. Under sufficient N and P conditions, endophyte infection alleviated the detrimental effects of GM colonization on host growth.     

The effect of mycorrhizal infection on survival and growth renewal of micropropagated fruit rootstocks

Apple, peach and plum rootstocks were inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp. strain A6 on transplanting from in vitro to in vivo culture. The optimal root length for effective infection, assessed in apple rootstock M 25, was 0.1–1.5 cm, corresponding to the beginning of root elongation. When inoculated at this stage, plants showed maximal growth increase and survival. Mycorrhizal infection of the Mr. S. 2/5 rootstock induced earlier growth renewal after transplanting than in the controls. These results confirm previous reports that mycorrhizal inoculation, performed during transplantation from in vitro to in vivo culture, can enhance both the growth and the survival of plants.     

Studies of iron transport by arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae from soil to peanut and sorghum plants

 The influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) uptake of peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) plants was studied in a pot experiment under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown for 10 weeks in pots containing sterilised calcareous soil with two levels of Fe supply. The soil was inoculated with rhizosphere microorganisms only or with rhizosphere microorganisms together with an AM fungus (Glomus mosseae [Nicol. & Gerd.] Gerdemann & Trappe). An additional small soil compartment accessible to hyphae but not roots was added to each pot after 6 weeks of plant growth. Radiolabelled P and Fe were supplied to the hyphae compartment 2 weeks after addition of this compartment. After a further 2 weeks, plants were harvested and shoots were analysed for radiolabelled elements. In both plant species, P uptake from the labelled soil increased significantly more in shoots of mycorrhizal plants than non-mycorrhizal plants, thus confirming the well-known activity of the fungus in P uptake. Mycorrhizal inoculation had no significant influence on the concentration of labelled Fe in shoots of peanut plants. In contrast, ⁵⁹Fe increased in shoots of mycorrhizal sorghum plants. The uptake of Fe from labelled soil by sorghum was particularly high under conditions producing a low Fe nutritional status of the plants. These results are preliminary evidence that hyphae of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus can mobilise and/or take up Fe from soil and translocate it to the plant. Accepted: 6 March 1998     

Response of strawberry to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under very high soil phosphorus conditions

A field study was done to assess the potential benefit of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation of elite strawberry plants on plant multiplication, under typical strawberry nursery conditions and, in particular, high soil P fertility (Mehlich-3 extractible P=498 mg kg⁻¹). Commercially in vitro propagated elite plants of five cultivars (‘Chambly,’ ‘Glooscap,’ ‘Joliette,’ ‘Kent,’ and ‘Sweet Charlie’) were transplanted in noninoculated growth substrate or in substrate inoculated with Glomus intraradices or with a mixture of species (G. intraradices, Glomus mosseae, and Glomus etunicatum) at the acclimation stage and were grown for 6 weeks before transplantation in the field. We found that AM fungi can impact on plant productivity in a soil classified as excessively rich in P. Inoculated mother plants produced about 25% fewer daughter plants than the control in Chambly (P=0.03), and Glooscap produced about 50% more (P=0.008) daughter plants when inoculated with G. intraradices, while the productivity of other cultivars was not significantly decreased. Daughter plant shoot mass was not affected by treatments, but their roots had lower, higher, or similar mass, depending on the cultivar–inoculum combination. Root mass was unrelated to plant number. The average level of AM colonization of daughter plants produced by noninoculated mother plants did not exceed 2%, whereas plants produced from inoculated mothers had over 10% of their root length colonized 7 weeks after transplantation of mother plants and ∼6% after 14 weeks (harvest), suggesting that the AM fungi brought into the field by inoculated mother plants had established and spread up to the daughter plants. The host or nonhost nature of the crop species preceding strawberry plant production (barley or buckwheat) had no effect on soil mycorrhizal potential, on mother plant productivity, or on daughter plant mycorrhizal development. Thus, in soil excessively rich in P, inoculation may be the only option for management of the symbiosis.     

Interaction between supernodulating or non-nodulating mutants of soybean and two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

 Twelve nodulation mutants (seven non-nodulating and five supernodulating) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Mirr.] were screened for arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in the presence of either Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerdemann or Gigaspora margarita Becker and Hall. The cultivars showed variation in colonization parameters. The two supernodulating mutants En6500 and NOD1–3 had higher frequencies of colonization with 2.5–4.5 times higher arbuscular abundance than the respective wild types. The enhanced mycorrhization resulted in significant enhancement of P uptake by En6500. The non-nodulating mutants showed decreases in mycorrhizal parameters. Mutants En1282 and Harosoy^–exhibited aborted infection after formation of typical appressorium-like structures at some sites. However, none of these had the non-mycorrhizal phenotype. Growth and nutrient-uptake parameters should be considered while studying plant mutants for mycorrhization. Accepted: 7 July 2000     

Growth of asparagus in a commercial peat mix containing vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi and the effects of applied phosphorus

Commercially prepared, peat-based mycorrhizal inocula were studied for growth effects on asparagus grown under greenhouse and field (fumigated) conditions. The fungi tested were Glomus clarum (GC), G. intraradix (GI), G. monosporum (GM), G. versifomre (GVR) and G. vesiculiferum (GVS). GI significantly increased plant dry weight in the greenhouse and the field. Survival of mycorrhizal tissue-cultured transplants after 14 months in the field was increased by twofold over the control. In a second experiment asparagus was grown from seed in the greenhouse in peat inoculated with a G. fasciculatum-like fungus (GF), GI and GVR with applied P levels of 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm and harvested after 13 and 17 weeks. Total dry weights of GI and GVR plants were significantly increased over those of the control and GF. Dry weight in this second experiment was positively correlated with root colonization. Root colonization at week 13 was slightly reduced with increasing levels of applied P, but not at week 17. The data suggest that the increased growth of mycorrhizal plants was not related to an increase in tissue P concentration, since there was no growth response to applied P and tissue P concentration in the mycorrhizal plants was lower than in the non-mycorrhizal plants.     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza‐mediated resistance in tomato against Cladosporium fulvum‐induced mould disease

Root colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances plant resistance particularly against soil‐borne pathogenic fungi. In this study, mycorrhizal inoculation with Glomus mosseae (Gm) significantly alleviated tomato mould disease caused by the air‐borne fungal pathogen, Cladosporium fulvum (Cf). The disease index (DI) in local leaves (receiving pathogen inoculation) and systemic leaves (just above the local leaf without pathogen inoculation) was 36.4% and 11.7% in mycorrhizal plants, respectively, whereas DI was 59.6% and 36.4% in the corresponding leaves of AMF non‐inoculated plants, after 50 days of Gm inoculation, corresponding to 15 days after Cf inoculation by leaf infiltration. Foliar spray inoculation with Cf also revealed that AMF pre‐inoculated plants had a higher resistance against subsequent pathogen infection, where the DI was 41.3% in mycorrhizal plants vs. 64.4% in AMF non‐inoculated plants. AMF‐inoculated plants showed significantly higher fresh and dry weight than non‐inoculated plants under both control (without pathogen) and pathogen treatments. AMF‐inoculated plants exhibited significant increases in activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, along with decreases in levels of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde, compared with non‐inoculated plants after pathogen inoculation. AMF inoculation led to increases in total chlorophyll contents and net photosynthesis rate as compared with non‐inoculated plants under control and pathogen infection. Pathogen infection on AMF non‐inoculated plants led to decreases in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. However, pathogen infection did not affect these parameters in mycorrhizal plants. Taken together, these results indicate that AMF colonization may play an important role in plant resistance against air‐borne pathogen infection by maintaining redox poise and photosynthetic activity.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomus-group A lineage (Glomerales; Glomeromycota) detected in myco-heterotrophic plants from tropical Africa

We amplified and sequenced partial 18S rDNA of fungi in the roots of 11 African myco-heterotrophic plants out of four angiosperm families (Burmanniaceae, Thismiaceae, Triuridaceae, and Gentianaceae). The sequences were cladistically analyzed with published sequences of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We show that all investigated African myco-heterotrophic plants are associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within a clade of Glomus (Glomus-group A). We reveal a fine-level mycorrhizal specificity for a particular set of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within Glomus-group A by Afrothismia hydra (Thismiaceae). Furthermore, we show that the roots of two myco-heterotrophic plant individuals, besides being colonized by representatives of Glomus-group A, also contain DNA of Acaulospora sp. Consequently, Acaulospora is interpreted as a facultative mycorrhizal associate.     

Genotype-dependence in the interaction betweenGlomus fistulosum,Phytophthora fragariae and the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

Root colonisation byGlomus fistulosum BEG 31 of a plant population from the outbreeding wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) ranged from 42 to 80%; this was correlated with a significant increase in fruit trusses, berries and leaves. The mycorrhizal plants produced significantly more primary and secondary runners but less lateral runners. One hundred randomly selected seeds were multiplied in vitro and 4 clonal populations were selected. Root colonisation in the clones varied from 16 to 75%, with significant difference in the % colonisation between some of the clones. Percentage mycorrhizal colonisation was positively correlated with effects on host growth.The positive correlation between mycorrhizal root colonisation and growth effects in the clones was not reflected in their respective susceptibility, in the non-mycorrhizal state, toPhytophthora fragariae infection. Clones showing the highest and lowest mycorrhizal root colonisation showed high disease susceptibility whereas a clone with intermediate colonisation was resistant. When the clones were colonised with mycorrhizal fungi, the two susceptible clones became resistant toP. fragariae whereas the resistant and partially-resistant clones were less affected. Only one clone showed variation in vesicle formation when challenged withP. fragariae.     

Infectivity and effectiveness of Glomus intraradices on micropropagated plants

Colonization by Glomus intraradices takes place very early within the root system of micropropagated plantlets of strawberry (var. avanta, elsanta), raspberry (var. himboqueen, Zeva I), and hortensia (var. leuchtfeuer). The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) did not colonize roots of the different hosts to the same extent, and considerable differences were observed between the varieties. The results reported here confirm that endomycorrhizal root colonization is affected by the host-fungus combination. The effects ranged from mutualistic (hortensia), through neutral (strawberry var. avanta, raspberry var. Zeva I) to negative (raspberry var. himboqueen and strawberry var. elsanta). Non-mycorrhized (control) plants of strawberry produced more runners than mycorrhized plants under controlled growth conditions (phytotron). Transfer of the potted plants to the field resulted in drastic alterations in overall growth and development within 4 weeks. Mycorrhized plants became healthy, and mycorrhized strawberry plants produced many stout runners. The number of the runners and their biomass were almost the same (var. avanta) and treated plants produced even more runners than the controls (var. elsanta). The authors have demonstrated the need to determine the specific effects of each species of AMF on individual prospective host plants prior to their utilization in the micropagation of plantlets.     

Mineral and lipid composition of Glycine - Glomus - Bradyrhizobium symbioses

Soybean [Glyeine max (L.) Merr. cv. Amsoy 71] plants were inoculated with either the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus fasciculatum. with a strain of Bradyrizobobium Japonicum. or with both endophytes in combintion. Noninoculated controlplantes were fertilized with levels of N and P previously found to compensate for nutrient input following infection by Bradyhizobium or Glomus Temporal differences in N and P assimilation in nodulated or mycorrhizal plants indicated that Glomus was most effective during early vegetative growth and Bradyrhizobion was active until the mid-pod-fill stage in soybean. In general. soybeans colonized by Glomus contained more Cu but less Mn and P than corresponding P-fertilized plants. Soyubean roots infected with G. fasciculaum contained five unusual fatty acids: [16: 1 (11c): 8:3 (6c, 9c, 12c): 20:3 (8c, 11c, 14c): 20:4 (5c, 8c, 11c, 14c): 20:5 (5c, 8c, 11c, 14c, 17c)] that were absent in non-infected roots. Fatty acid 16:1 (11c) comprised 43% of total fatty acids in Glomus-infected roots at week 9 and 29% of total root fatty acids at week 15. This isomer of hexadecenoic acid was positively correlated with vesicle number (r = 0.92**). and 16:1 (11c) was probably the principalstorage fatty acid in fungal vesicles. These five unusual fatty acids were not found in the leaves. pods or seeds of either VAM or non-VAM plants. Specific leaf area increased with time in nodulated soybeans. but these plants contained lessCu than corresponding N-fertilized plants. Soybeans nodulated with Bradyrthizobium contained more total lipid and proportionately more fatty acid 16:0 than N-fertilized plants. Infection by Glomus or Bradyrhizobium also altered the fatty acid composition of above-ground plant parts, although these changes were subtle compared to the markedly different fatty acid found in Glomus-infected roots. These findings suggest that seed quality may be altered due to the physiological changes resulting from infection by N²-fixing bacteria and/or endomycorrhizal fungi. Observed differences in the plant nutrition of inoculated soybeans could not be replicated by fertilizer addition alone.     

Characteristic responses of three tropical legumes to the inoculation of two species of VAM fungi in Andosol soils with different fertilities

The growth and mineral nutrition responses were evaluated of three tropical legumes, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. cv Kuromame), pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L. (Millsp.) cv ICPL 86009] and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea cv Nakateyutaka) inoculated with two different species of VAM fungi, Glomus sp. (Glomus etunicatum-like species) and Gigaspora margarita, and grown in Andosols with different fertilities [Bray II-P: topsoil (72 ppm), subsoil (<0.1 ppm)]. Percent fungal root colonization was high in cowpea and groundnut but relatively low in pigeonpea in both soil types. Despite the low rate of root infection, significant growth responses were produced, especially in the inoculated pigeonpea plant. In all legumes, shoot dry matter production was favoured by the inoculations. Increases in shoot biomass due to mycorrhizae were greater in the subsoil than in the topsoil. Mycorrhization raised shoot concentrations of P and Ca (in cowpea and groundnut) and P and K (in pigeonpea) in the topsoil. Whereas the P concentration in shoots in the subsoil was not positively affected by VAM fungi, particularly in cowpea and pigeonpea, the concentration of K in such plants was significantly increased by VAM treatment. The results also showed that mycorrhizal enhancement of shoot micronutrient concentrations was very rare in all plants, with negative effects observed in certain cases. Cu concentration, in particular, was not affected by VAM formation in any of the plants, and Mn and Fe in pigeonpea and groundnut, respectively, remained the same whether plants were mycorrhizal or not. In both soils the three legumes responded to Glomus sp. better than to Gigaspora margarita, and the effects of the VAM fungi on each of the crops relative to the controls were greater in the subsoil than in the topsoil. However, shoot growth of groundnut was not affected as much as cowpea and pigeonpea by the type of soil used. In spite of the relatively low infection of its root, pigeonpea was generally the most responsive of the three legume species in terms of mycorrhizal/nonmycorrhizal ratios.     

Symbiotic efficiency and infectivity of an autochthonous arbuscular mycorrhizal Glomus sp. from saline soils and Glomus deserticola under salinity

 The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of salinity on the symbiotic efficiencies and mycelial infectivity of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), one isolated from saline soils (Glomus sp.) and the other (Glomus deserticola) from nonsaline soils (belonging to the Estación Experimental del Zaidín collection). Lettuce plants inoculated with either of these two fungi or maintained as uninoculated controls were grown in soil with three salt concentrations (0.25, 0.50 or 0.75 g NaCl kg^–1 dry soil). Both AMF protected host plants against salinity. However, when the results of shoot dry weight and nutrient contents were expressed relative to the total length of mycorrhiza formed, it was found that both AMF differed in their symbiotic efficiencies. These differences were more evident at the two highest salt levels. Glomus sp.-colonized plants grew less and accumulated less N and P, whereas they formed a higher amount of mycorrhiza. The mechanism by which Glomus sp. protected plants from the detrimental effects of salt was based on the stimulation of root development, while the effects of G. deserticola were based on improved plant nutrition. The increase in salinity of soil decreased the hyphal growth and/or viability of Glomus sp. to a higher extent than those of G. deserticola since the mycelial network generated by G. deserticola was more infective than that of Glomus sp. Accepted: 8 September 2000     

Interactive effects of temperature and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth,P uptake and root respiration of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.

Capsicum annuum (pepper) plants were inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus intraradices Smith and Schenck, an undescribed Glomus sp. (AZ 112) or a mixture of these isolates. Control plants were non-mycorrhizal. Plants were grown for 8 weeks at moderate (20.7–25.4°C) or high (32.1–38°C) temperatures. Colonization of pepper roots by G. intraradices or the Glomus isolate mixture was lower at high than at moderate temperatures, but colonization by Glomus AZ112 was somewhat increased at high temperatures. Pepper shoot and root dry weights and leaf P levels were affected by an interaction between temperature and AM fungal treatments. At moderate temperatures, shoot dry weights of plants colonized by the Glomus isolate mixture or non-AM plants were highest, while root dry weights were highest for non-AM plants. At high temperatures, plants colonized by Glomus AZ112 or the non-AM plants had the lowest shoot and root dry weights. AM plants had generally higher leaf P levels at moderate temperatures and lower P levels at high temperatures than non-AM plants. AM plants also had generally higher specific soil respiration than non-AM plants regardless of temperature treatment. At moderate temperatures, P uptake by all AM plants was enhanced relative to non-AM plants but there was no corresponding enhancement of growth, possibly because less carbon was invested in root growth or root respiratory costs increased. At high temperatures, pepper growth with the G. intraradices isolate and the Glomus isolate mixture was enhanced relative to non-AM controls, despite reduced levels of AM colonization and, therefore, apparently less fungal P transfer to the plant.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and selenium uptake by garlic plants

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on garlic plants growth and the uptake of selenium (Se). Garlic plants were grown in the pots inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum and G. mosseae and maintained in a greenhouse. Three weeks after planting, the pots had received different concentrations of Se (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg kg^?1 of soil) in the form of selenium dioxide (SeO₂) at 3 weeks intervals up to 12 weeks. For physiological and biochemical analysis, the samples were randomly collected from five plants of each experiment. Maximum AM infection, spore population and plant biomass were observed in the roots of mycorrhizal-mediated plants without Se, and they were gradually declined in both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants with increasing concentrations of Se. Among the two Glomus species tested, G. fasciculatum-mediated plants showed higher AM infection, spore population and plant biomass than G. mosseae. No differences were observed for the uptake of Se in mycorrhizal plants and NM plants. However, NM plants uptake more Se than mycorrhizal plants. Higher contents of total chlorophyll and sugars were observed in plants inoculated with G. fasciculatum without Se and they were decreased in the presence of Se. In contrast, increased amount of glutathione peroxidase was observed at increasing concentrations of Se up to 20 mg kg^?1. High-performance liquid chromatography data revealed that SeO₂ converted to organic form of Se as γ-glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine. These results are basis for further investigations on the role of AMF on plant growth and uptake of Se in crop plants.     

Occurrence of some Glomales in Finland

By using trap plants, 17 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) belonging to the order Glomales were identified in 266 soil samples collected in the period 1987–1989. Of the identified isolates, 87.1% belonged to the genus Glomus Tulasne & Tulasne, 8.5% to Acaulospora Gerdemann & Trappe, 4.1% to Scutellospora Walker & Sanders and 0.3% to Entrophospora. Of the individual species identified, Glomus hoi Berch & Trappe was the most frequently identified, followed by G. fistulosum Skou & Jakobsen and G. mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe. Only small differences in AMF trapping ability were observed between the four trap plants used, Trifolium pratense L., Zea mays L., Allium cepa L. var. cepa and Fragaria x ananassa Duch. T. pratense was chosen for further study because it had the highest AMF sporulation index in trap cultures and it also performed better than the other plants when grown in soils with different physical and chemical properties. The proportion of soil samples where AMF were identified decreased from close to 100% in the southern and central parts of Finland to about 50% in northern Finland.     

Mycorrhizal status of the endangered species Astragalus applegatei Peck as determined from a soil bioassay

 The mycorrhizal status of Astragalus applegatei Peck is reported for the first time on plants from a greenhouse soil bioassay. Seedlings were grown in a potting mix inoculated with soil collected near A. applegatei plants in nature. Plants were also grown in non-inoculated potting mix. Only plants from the native soil inoculation survived. Abundant colonization of VAM fungi was found in all 15 plants analyzed from the native soil treatment, and chlamydospores produced by Glomus spp. were observed. Mycorrhizal colonization was estimated to be 23% of total fine root length after 6 weeks and 53% after 14 weeks. Our results provide ecologically important information for conservation and restoration efforts underway to recover populations of this endangered species. Accepted: 22 June 1998     

Does the sequence of plant dominants affect mycorrhiza development in simulated succession on spoil banks?

The aim of this field study was to examine how the development of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on coal mine spoil banks is affected by the presence of plants with different mycorrhizal status. A 3-year trial was conducted on the freshly created spoil bank Vršany, North-Bohemian coal basin, the Czech Republic. Three plant species – non-mycotrophic annual Atriplex sagittata, highly mycotrophic annual Tripleurospermum inodorum (both dominants of early stages of succession) and facultatively mycotrophic Arrhenatherum elatius (a perennial grass species of the later stage of succession) – were planted on 1 m² plots over 3 years in different sequences that simulated the progress of succession on spoil banks. The development of AMF populations was monitored by evaluation of mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots and by measurement of the mycorrhizal inoculation potential (MIP) of soil. These two parameters were compared between plots inoculated with the mixture of three AMF isolates – Glomus mosseae BEG95, G. claroideum BEG96 and G. intraradices BEG140 – (“inoculated plots”) and plots exposed only to natural dispersal of AMF propagules (“uninoculated plots”). Highly colonized roots of plants together with a high MIP of soil in uninoculated plots were already found at the end of the first season, indicating rapid natural dispersal of AMF propagules. Root colonization of facultatively mycotrophic and non-mycotrophic plants in later years was affected by the mycorrhizal status of the previous plant species. The MIP of soil continuously increased throughout the experiment; in uninoculated plots, the MIP was temporarily decreased if plant species of higher mycotrophy were replaced by species of lower mycotrophy. The results lead to the conclusion that AMF colonize freshly formed sites very quickly and reproduce or accumulate in the soil, which leads to increasing MIP values. However, this infective potential can be decreased if non-mycotrophic plants predominate on the site.