Using Mycorrhizae and Mushrooms To Improve Soil Fertility and Plant Health

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Using Mycorrhizae and Mushrooms To Improve Soil
Fertility and Plant Health
Tradd Cotter Mushroom Mountain, LLC
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SYMBIOSIS

• Interkingdom dependence is universal
• Mycorrhiza (pl.mycorrhizae)
• defined as a symbiotic relationship
• between the roots of a plant and a
• fungus.
• Includes plants that do not have roots, such as
  bryophytes (mosses and liverworts)..

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Mycorrhiza

• Obligate symbionts
• Symbiotic association involving mycobiont and
  photobiont
• Mycobiont obtains carbohydrates, vitamins, and
  spore germination stimulated by root exudates
• Up to 20 of the hosts fixed carbon can be
  captured by the fungus
• Plant obtains benefits from increased mineral and
  nutrient uptake, increased water uptake, and
  protection from root pathogen
• up to 80 of plants phosphorus needs and 25 of
  its nitrogen obtained via the fungus

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Function of Mycorrhizae

• CARBON TRADING with plant hosts in exchange for
  phosphorous, nitrogen, and many other elements
  plants cannot absorb or fix.
• Up to 30 more Nitrogen
• Up to 60 more Phosphates

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Function of Mycorrhizae

• Water transport and retention
• Root Pathogen Resistance
• Collaboration with other microbes (bacteria,
  protozoa, nematodes)
• Increases soil porosity

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• thick, course mycelium may extends out from roots
  into soil, infect other roots
• sometimes bears Chlamydopsores
• thick-walled, multinucleate globose spores
  resting structures

Spores of Glomus spp.
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TYPES OF MYCORRHIZAE
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Woody Trees and Shrubs

• Ectomycorrhizal fungi 3 fungi Pisolithus
  tinctorius, Scleroderma and multiple species of
  Rhizopogon.
• Also include gt5,000 mushroom species!
• Porcini, Truffles, Chanterelles

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Annual and Perennial Veggies

• Endomycorrhizal fungi 7 fungal species
• Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Glomus
  fasciculatum, Glomus dussii, Glomus clarum,
  Glomus deserticola, Glomus microaggregatum.

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Mycorrhizal symbiont?

• Trichoderma 6 fungal species that include
  Trichoderma (6 strains), Gliocladium virens (2
  strains), Trichoderma harzianum (2 strains),
  Trichoderma viride (2 strains), A beneficial
  fungus that is used to enhance mycorrhizal
  colonization and protect the roots.

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TYPES OF INOCULANTS

• POWDER
• GRANULES
• LIQUID

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TYPES OF INOCULANTS

• POWDER

Longer shelf life compared to liquids. Can be
stored for up to a year. Longer if kept sealed at
38 degrees F Used for seed inoculation or to make
a solution for repeated watering applications
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TYPES OF INOCULANTS

• GRANULES

Spores carried by volcanic rock or other inert
particles. CAREFUL! You are buying by the pound.
Used for surface inoculation root application at
planting. Often contain additional fertilizers or
stimulants.
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TYPES OF INOCULANTS

• LIQUID

Shorter shelf life compared to powders and
granules Use immediately or store at 38 degrees
F Require long, static contact time with root
tips for root infection to occur
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TIPS FOR INOCULANTS
The earlier the better Inoculate seed or
seedling before the root system has encountered
pathogens You need more inoculant once the
plants root system develops SAVE
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MYCOFILTRATION biological contaminants
E.coli O157H7 Fecal coliform bacteria commonly
causing serious illness when ingested. Common in
all regions of the world. Trypanosoma cruzi -
Protozoan parasite known to cause Chagas
Disease primarily in tropical South American
countries. Over 10 million affected. 10,000
people die every year (WHO, 2008).
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MYCOFILTRATION Test 3
PRIOR RESEARCH Reduced fecal coliforms 100 to 1
in as little as 24 hours using mycological
filters. Can be used to create composting for
manures, human waste
KING STROPHARIA Stropharia rugoso-annulata
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