What is Mycorrhizae?
"Mycor"-"rhiza" literally means "fungus"-"root" and describes the mutually beneficial relationship between plant roots and some fungi. These specialized fungi attach to the roots and extend far into the soil. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments (hyphae) in the soil are truly extensions of root systems and are more effective in nutrient and water absorption than the roots themselves.
How do Mycorrhizal fungi help plants?
Finding nutrients in the soil, particularly phosphorus, and delivering them to the plants is the primary function of the fungi, but there is also important disease and pathogen suppression. The fungi and the roots of the plants form a bond which helps the plants withstand attacks from root knot nematodes, soil borne diseases (both fungal and bacterial), drought, salt, and toxic pollutants in the soil. It also reduces transplant stress, plant loss, and much more. Another very important feature of the relationship is the improvement of soil texture. The hyphae growing on the roots clump the clay particles into aggregates, thereby allowing more oxygen to reach the root zone. This promotes rapid multiplication of beneficial aerobic bacteria which fix nitrogen, increase the solubility of phosphorus, and process other elements into forms the plant can use.
What plants use these Mycorrhizal fungi?
Over 90% of the world's plant species form a bond with mycorrhizae. It is easier to list plants that DO NOT form a bond:
Beet (Chenopodiaceae), Carnation (Caryophyllaceae), Heath (Ericacaea), Orchid (Orchidaceae), Rush (Juncaceae), Oak (Fagaceae
), Mustard (Cruciferae), Cabbage (Brassica), Birch (Betulaceae), Sedge (Cyperaceae), and Pine (Pinaceae).
Plants which benefit from this mycorrhizal inoculant:
Acacia, agapanthus, alfalfa, almond, apple, apricot, artichoke, ash, asparagus, avocado, bamboo, banana, basil, bayberry, bean, begonia, black locust, blackberry, box elder, boxwood, buckeye, bulbs (all), burning bush, cactus, camellia, carrot, catalpa, celery, cherry, chokeberry, chrysanthemum, citrus (all), clover, coconut, coffee, coral tree, corn, cotton, cottonwood, crabapple, cryptomeria, cucumber, currant, cypress, dogwood, eggplant, elm, euonymous, fern, fescue, fig, forsythia, fountain grass, fruit trees (all), fuchsia, gardenia, garlic, geranium, ginkgo, grapes (all), grasses, gum, hackberry, hawthorn, hibiscus, holly, hornbeam, horse chestnut, impatiens, Indian hawthorn, jojoba, juniper, kiwi, leek, lettuce, lily, locust, magnolia, mahonia, mango, maples (all), marigold, melons (all), mesquite, millet, mimosa, morning glory, mulberry, monkey grass, nasturtium, okra, olive, onion, palms (all), palmetto, pansy, pampas grass, papayas, paulownia, passion fruit paw paw, peach, peanut, pear, pecan, peppers, pistachio, persimmon, pittosporum, plum, poinsettia, potato, poplar, raintree, raspberry, redbud, Russian olive, ryegrass, sagebrush, serviceberry, sourwood, soybean, squash (all), strawberry, Sudan grass, sugarcane, sumac, sunflower, sweetgum, sweet potato, sycamore, tea, tobacco, tomato, tree-of-heaven, tupelo, walnut, wheat, yam, yellow poplar, yucca.
CAUTION:
Mycorrhizae are living organisms and may be damaged by chemical pesticides and fertilizers. They are best used in conjunction with a program using organic products. Tilling the soil will expose the fungi to light and will diminish their numbers.
