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)..
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 host’s 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 plant’s phosphorus needs and 25% of its
nitrogen obtained via the fungus
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
Function of Mycorrhizae
• Water transport and retention
• Root Pathogen Resistance
• Collaboration with other microbes (bacteria,
protozoa, nematodes…)
• Increases soil porosity
• 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.
TYPES OF MYCORRHIZAE
Woody Trees and Shrubs
Ectomycorrhizal fungi – 3 + fungi – Pisolithus
tinctorius, Scleroderma and multiple species
of Rhizopogon.
Also include >5,000 mushroom species!
Porcini, Truffles, Chanterelles…
Annual and Perennial Veggies
• Endomycorrhizal fungi – 7 fungal species
– Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Glomus
fasciculatum, Glomus dussii, Glomus clarum,
Glomus deserticola, Glomus
microaggregatum.
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.
TYPES OF INOCULANTS
POWDER
GRANULES
LIQUID
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
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.
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
TIPS FOR INOCULANTS
The earlier the better
Inoculate seed or seedling before the root system has
encountered pathogens
You need more inoculant once the plant’s root system
develops
SAVE $$$$$$$$$
MYCOFILTRATION
biological contaminants
E.coli O157:H7– Fecal coliform
bacteria commonly causing
serious illness when ingested.
Common in all regions of the
world.
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Trypanosoma cruzi - Protozoan
parasite known to cause “Chaga’s
Disease” primarily in tropical
South American countries. Over
10 million affected. 10,000 people
die every year (WHO, 2008).
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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