Abstract
Two field experiments were conducted to examine the effect of soil solarization on the survival of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and root colonization of three crops. The experiments were carried out in a loamy sand soil (Rehovot) and a silty soil (Bet She'an Valley). For both experiments, assessment of indigenous AM fungal populations by the most probable number (MPN) method indicated that populations were reduced to zero after 2 or 4 weeks of solarization treatment. However, Glomus intraradices inoculum applied to the soil prior to solarization remained viable even after 8 weeks of solarization. After soil fumigation with methyl bromide both indigenous and applied AM fungi were nondetectable. Percentage root colonization by the indigenous AM fungal populations, together with plant-growth parameters, were assessed for three crops: onion and wheat (Rehovot), and carrot (Bet She'an). When sown on solarized field plots, onion and carrot seedlings showed a plant growth retardation, whereas wheat showed an increased growth response. Root colonization by indigenous AM fungi was not evident until 6 weeks after seedling emergence. Fumigation with methyl bromide reduced root colonization by indigenous AM populations, and reduced onion and wheat plant development at early growth stages. In a laboratory experiment, a temperature of 45° C for up to 24 h did not affect AM spore viability, indicating that temperatures reached during the solarization treatment cannot solely account for the reduced AM fungi viability in the field. Apparently, soil solarization temporarily delays root colonization by indigenous AM fungi until 6-8 weeks after plant emergence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afek U, Rinaldelli E, Menge J A, Johnson E L V and Pond E 1990 Mycorrhizal species, root age, and position of mycorrhizal inoculum influence colonization of cotton, onion, and pepper seedlings. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 115, 938–942.
Afek U, Menge J A and Johnson E L V 1991 Interaction among mycorrhizae, soil solarization, metalaxyl and plants in the field. Plant Dis. 75, 665–671.
Becard G and Piche Y 1989 New aspects on the acquisition of biotrophic status by a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae fungus, Gigaspora margarita. New Phytol. 112, 77–83.
Bennett J E, Woomer P L and Yost R S 1990 Users manual for MPNES most probable-number enumeration system, Ver. 1.0. NifTAL Project and University of Hawaii, NifTAL Project, Hawaii, USA. 14 p.
Bertoldi M de, Giovannetti M, Griselli M and Rambelli A 1977 Effects of soil application of benomyl and captan on the growth of onions and the occurrence of endophytic mycorrhizas and rhizosphere microbes. Ann. Appl. Biol 86, 111–115.
Chen Y, Gamliel A, Stapleton J J and Aviad T 1991 Chemical, physical and microbial changes related to plant growth in disinfested soils. In Soil Solarization. Eds. J Katan and J E DeVay. pp. 5–33. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Daniels B A and Trappe J M 1980 Factors affecting spore germination of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus epigaeus. Mycologia. 72, 457–471.
DeVay J E and Katan J 1991 Mechanisms of pathogen control in solarized soils. In Soil Solarization. Eds. J Katan and J E DeVay. pp. 87–102. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Dodd J, Krikun J and Haas J 1983 Relative effectiveness of indigenous populations of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from four sites in the Negev. Isr. J. Bot. 32, 10–21.
Douds, D D and Schenck, N C 1990 Cryopreservation of spores of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytol. 115, 667– 674.
Gamliel A and Katan J 1991 Involvement of fluorescent pseudomonads and other microorganisms in increased growth response of plants in solarized soils. Phytopathology 81, 494–502.
Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Branzanti B and Gianinazzi S 1989 In vitro enhancement of spore germination and early hyphal growth of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus by host root exudates and plant flavonoids. Symbiosis. 7, 243–255.
Giovannetti M and Mosse B 1980. An evaluation of techniques for measuring vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal infection in roots. New Phytol. 84, 489–500.
Greenberger A, Yogev A and Katan J 1987 Induced suppressiveness in solarized soils. Phytopathology. 77, 1663–1667.
Gruenzweig J M, Rabinowitch H D and Katan J 1993 Physiological and developmental aspects of increased plant growth in solarized soils. Ann. Appl. Biol. 122, 579–591.
Haas J H and Krikun J 1985 Efficacy of endomycorrhizal-fungus isolates and inoculum quantities required for growth response. New Phytol. 100, 613–621.
Hetrick B A D 1984 Ecology of VA mycorrhizal fungi. In VA Mycorrhiza. Eds. C L. Powell and D J Bagyaraj. pp. 35–55. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
John T V St and Koske R E 1988 Statistical treatment of endogonaceous spore counts. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 91, 117–121.
Kapulnik Y, Heuer B, Patterson N A, Sadan D, Bar Z, Nir G and Kishinevsky B 1994 Stunting syndrome in peanuts and agronomic approaches for its release. Symbiosis 16, 267–278.
Katan J 1981 Solar heating (solarization) of soil for control of soilborne pests. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 19, 211–236.
Katan J and DeVay J E 1991 Soil solarization: Historical perspective, principles, and uses. In Soil Solarization. Eds. J Katan and J E DeVay). pp. 23–38. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Katan J, Rotem I, Finkel Y and Daniel J 1980 Solar heating of the soil for the control of pink root and other soilborne diseases in onion. Phytoparasitica. 8, 89–50.
Klein R M and Klein D T 1970 Research Methods in Plant Science. The Natural History Press, New York, NY. pp. 298–301.
Koide R T 1991 Nutrient supply, nutrient demand and plant response to mycorrhizal infection. New Phytol. 117, 365–386.
Koske R E 1986 Distribution of VA mycorrhizal fungi along a latitudinal temperature gradient. Mycologia. 78, 55–68.
Krikun J, Haas J H, Dodd J and Kinsbursky R 1990 Mycorrhizal dependence of four crops in a P-sorbing soil. Plant Soil 122, 213–217.
Mahrer Y 1991 Physical principles of solar heating of soils by plastic mulching in field and in glasshouses and simulation models. In Soil Solarization. Eds. J Katan and J E DeVay. pp. 75–88. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Menge JA 1982 Effect of soil fumigants and fungicides on vesiculararbuscular fungi. Phytopathol. 72, 1125–1132.
Nemec S 1987 Effect of storage temperature andmoisture on Glomus species and their subsequent effect on citrus rootstock seedling growth and mycorrhiza development. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 89, 205–212.
Phillips J M and Hayman D S 1970 Improved procedures for clearing roots and staining parasitic and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for rapid assessment of infection. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 55, 158–160.
Porter W M 1979 The “most probable number” method for enumerating infective propagules of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil. Aust. J. Soil Res. 17, 515–519.
Pullman G S, DeVay J E and Garber R H 1981 Soil solarization and thermal death: a logarithmic relationship between time and temperature for four soilborne plant pathogens. Phytopathology. 71, 959–964.
Rabinowitch H D, Katan J and Rotem I 1981 The response of onions to solar heating, agricultural practices and pink-root disease. Sci. Hort. 15, 331–340.
Satour M M, Abdel-Rahim M J, El-Yamini T, Radwan A, Grinstein A and Rabinowitch H D 1989. Soil solarization in onion fields in Egypt and Israel: short-and long-term effects. Acta Hortic. 255, 151–156.
Smith S E and Read D J 1997 Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Academic Press, Harcourt Brace and company, Publishers, New York, NY. 605 p.
Stapleton J J and DeVay J E 1984 Thermal components of soil solarization as related to changes in soil and root microflora and increased plant growth response. Phytopathology. 74, 255–259.
Stribley D P 1990 Mycorrhizal associations and their significance. In Onions and Allied Crops. vol. II: Agronomy, Biotic Interactions, Pathology, and Crop Protection. Eds. H D Rabinowitch and J L Brester). pp. 85–101. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Tommerup I C 1983a Spore dormancy in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 81, 37–45.
Tommerup I C 1983b Temperature relations of spore germination and hyphal growth of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 81, 381–387.
Trappe J M, Molina R and Castellano M 1984 Reactions of mycorrhizal fungi and mycorrhiza formation to pesticides. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 22, 331–359.
Vilarino A and Arines J 1990 VAM propagule activity as affected by burning. Symbiosis 9, 129–131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bendavid-Val, R., Rabinowitch, H., Katan, J. et al. Viability of VA-mycorrhizal fungi following soil solarization and fumigation. Plant and Soil 195, 185–193 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004200316520
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004200316520