Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

THE ROLE OF MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

Objective

To provide a definitive assessment of the potential for practical and economic field assessment of mycorrhizas.

Background

Support received from RIRDC was used to contribute to travel expenses for international speakers to participate in the International Symposium on Management of Mycorrhizas in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry.

Research

The approach was to invite leading international scientists to review the state of knowledge and to identify areas where further research is required. Additionally, there were a large number of invited and contributed posters. Scientists from twenty-eight countries attended the meeting; 110 of the 180 participants were from Australia.

Outcome

There is considerable potential to obtain greater benefits from the mycorrhizal symbiosis in broad-scale agriculture, agroforestry and the reclamation of degraded soils. Management options that are possible are:

• choice of fertiliser practices, tillage and rotation;
• choice of genotype;
• prevention of erosion; and
• nursery or field inoculation of plantation tree species with ectomycorrhizal fungi.

In broadscale agriculture it is unlikely that the introduction of inoculant mycorrhizal fungi will be feasible. The potential for inoculant use in horticulture is greater, however use of high levels of phosphate fertiliser will reduce successful use of the symbiosis. Inoculation of trees with ectomycorrhizal fungi is a practical option for increasing seedling establishment and plant growth, however the functioning of the symbiosis requires further investigation in order to obtain maximum benefits.

Implications

The main biology/ecology research needs include:

• developing approaches that will distinguish among the fungi colonising roots;
• understanding changes in colonisation with time within and between growing seasons;
• estimating the numbers and types of propagules in soils and their response to farming practices.

In relation to the functioning of the symbioses, the major research needs include:

• detailed studies of mycorrhizal functioning in the field ;
• defining differences among fungi in their ability to enhance plant growth and soil aggregation; and
• examining whether mycorrhizas us the same source of phosphorus os non-mycorrhizal roots.

RIRDC Project No: UWA-12A

RESEARCHER: Dr Lyn K Abbott

ORGANISATION: School of Agriculture

PHONE: 09 380 1050

Last updated: 10 October 1996
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http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/93-94/index-b.html