Mycorrhizal fungi in the garden by Tom Kaltenbach

With a diameter of 880 ha a fungus discovered in Oregon certainly belongs to the largest beings alive.

Myco (gr. fungus) Rhiza ( gr. root) Consequently a mykorrhizal fungus is a root fungus, which established a partnership with a plant.

This partnership is called symbiosis

More than 90 % of all land - living plants depend on the symbiosis with fungi.

Ectomycorrhiza dominate on woody plants, Endomycorrhiza on herbs.

Tecnical terms: - Spawn means the tissue of the fungus - Hyphae are the microscopical fibres which form the spawn. - Fructification describes the part of the fungus, commonly known as mushroom.

Advantages of mycorrhization : 1. Raised water- and nutrient- resorbtion: The fine hyphae multiply the surface of the root. Growth and bifurcation of the fine roots are stimulated.

2. Protective effect of the spawn : 2.1 mecanical: - outer barrier: provided by the ‘fungal mantle’ - inner barrier: through ‘Hartig Net’, a layer of modified cells on the surface of the root. 2.2 chemical: through the exudation of antibiotic and fungostatic substances.

3. raised general vitality is the result and the fertilisation can be reduced by half.

4. In the case of trees also the possibility of a mushroom- harvest.

Artificial mycorrhization: Necessary only once in the life of a plant

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