Subject: Re: [GWL] Re: gardenwriters Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1

From: Thomas Olenio <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 09:45:28 -0500

Hello,

In research, VAM mycorrhizal is pot cultured using leeks as its host, it will
not survive in agar.  Inoculation can be accomplished with spores or broken
root segments.

Do the temperatures produced by properly managed composts piles destroy the
mycorrhizal segments/spores I do not know.  Having observed my working
(heating) compost piles, fungi are rare.  However, finished compost is a good
medium for fungi.

The easiest thing to do is to buy a leek from the grocer, inoculate it's root
zone with VAM mycorrhiza and replant it in a pot.  To inoculate new plants
simply remove the leek from it's pot, cut soil/roots from the plant add new
soil and repot.  You then can use the removed soil to inoculate other plants.

The leek will have to be cut back to increase longevity.

More info...
http://invam.caf.wvu.edu/Articles/culturing.htm

Tom

Duane Campbell wrote:

> On Sat, 1 Mar 2003 09:00:15 -0600 "Jeff Lowenfels" <[email-masked]>
> writes:
> > As garden writers we need to make sure folks start using mycorrhizal
> >
> >  fertilizer with numbers over 8 kills them off......
>
> Would you be kind enough to throw a couple more words into that sentence,
> Jeff, so I can figure out what it means?
>
> Question -- doesn't adding compost, especially leaf mold, to potting mix
> supply mycorrhizal fungi?
>
> D
>
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--

===
Canada plant hardiness zone 5b
Southwest Ontario
===

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From: LEE REICH <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2003 21:22:45 -0500

I did some research into mycorrhiza as part of my doctoral thesis, and while I
never cease to wonder at the beauty of this symbiosis, I object to its
commercialization. Mycorrhiza are ubiqutious. True, they can be wiped out under
certain extreme conditions, but even then they'll frequently recolonize
themselves. Most of the time, innoculation is a waste of money.

Lee Reich, PhD

Jeff Lowenfels wrote:

> Sorry, for the unclearness.
>
> Ninety percent of plants --o.k. some say 70 or 80%, form a mycorrhizal
> relationship and most  "Yardeners" have no idea what a mycorrhizal fungus is
> nonetheless understands how to garden with them.
>
> Nurseries have taken the lead in using mycorrhizal fungi in their
> products.They do so because they work. These are now available for home use
> but who in your "readership" has really ever even heard of mycorrhizal
> fungi? It is my belief garden writers fill the role of passing on to home
> gardeners the "instructions" and the reasons "why" they might want to use
> them. There are some great websites to start if you want more information.
> Just contact me off list.
>
> One of the problems is that fungi are fragile and salt based fertilizers
> conflict. I am not sure how our fertilizer industry brethren will react to
> any hoopla about mychorrizal because there is an incompatibility between an
> existing industry and a new one.
>
> That is what I meant to say. May be something about B-1 not working, though
> many garden writers push it, but that is all!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff L
>