Summary
Data are provided on the growth of non-pathogenic soil fungi on root surfaces. By growing roots from non-sterile soil into sterile vermiculite, and by regular isolation of fungi from the roots which had grown into the sterile vermiculite, it was shown that fungal growth down roots is slow. It is suggested that in the colonization of roots by non-pathogenic fungi successive lateral colonization from the soil is of greater importance than the growth of fungi down roots.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bilai, V. I., Symbiotic relationships of Fusarium species and other fungi.In: Report of Conference on Plant Mycotrophy, p. 128. U.S.S.R. Acad. of Sci. Moscow. (1955).
Dorokhova, N. A., The question of the mycotrophic nutrition of wheat. Agrobiologiya5, 51–62 (1953).
Harley, J. L., Mycorrhiza and soil ecology. Biol. Rev.23, 127–158 (1958).
Harley, J. L. and Waid, J. S., A method of studying active mycelia on living roots and other surfaces in soil. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc.38, 104–118 (1955).
Krushcheva, E. R., The mycorrhiza of wheat and its importance for the growth and development of the plant. Izvestya Akad. Nauk. sev Biol.2, 220–239 (1960).
Park, D., Some aspects of the biology ofFusarium oxysporum Schl. in soil. Ann. Botany N.S.23, 35–49 (1959).
Parkinson, D. and Clarke, J. H., Fungi associated with the seedling roots ofAllium porrum L. Plant and Soil13, 384–390 (1961).
Peterson, E. A., Observations on fungi associated with plants roots. Can. J. Microbiol.4, 257–265 (1958).
Stenton, H., Colonization of roots ofPisum sativum L. by fungi. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc.41, 74–80 (1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, G.S., Parkinson, D. The growth of saprophytic fungi on root surfaces. Plant Soil 15, 261–267 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01400459
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01400459