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Use of Mycorrhiza Bioassays in Ecological Studies

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Symbiotic Fungi

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 18))

Abstract

Mycorrhizal bioassays measure the infectivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal propagules in soil at one point of time, or over time if sequential harvests are included. However, the bioassay environment may not be the same as field conditions. Therefore, it is possible that fungi are infective under bioassay conditions but not in the field. This discrepancy may be due to differences in the physiological state of roots, to the use of bait plants in the bioassay that are not the same species as the plants growing in the field, or to changes in the competitive ability of the AM fungi in the bioassay compared to that in the field environment. Bioassays have the potential to assist in predicting how roots might become colonized in field soils, but calibrations are necessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, School of Earth and Environment M087, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    I. A. F. Djuuna, L. K. Abbott & Z. M. Solaiman

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  1. I. A. F. Djuuna
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  2. L. K. Abbott
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  3. Z. M. Solaiman
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Correspondence to L. K. Abbott .

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  1. Amity Institute of Microbial Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, 201303, India

    Ajit Varma  & Amit C. Kharkwal  & 

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Djuuna, I.A.F., Abbott, L.K., Solaiman, Z.M. (2009). Use of Mycorrhiza Bioassays in Ecological Studies. In: Varma, A., Kharkwal, A.C. (eds) Symbiotic Fungi. Soil Biology, vol 18. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-95894-9_3

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