Understanding Mycorrhizae

The only way to ensure optimal results is to inoculate each year with the right active ingredient (species), at the right rate, at the right time and at the right place. The symbiosis should be established with an effective species as soon as possible if you want to gain the desired benefits.

Why? Several factors contribute to decreasing the mycorrhizae population in agricultural soils:

• Harvest (mortality) of the host plant in the fall, absence of host plant;
• Non-mycorrhizal plants in rotation (canola, mustard, beet);
• Tillage and other land preparation;
• Fallow land;
• Flooding.

2- Does the SOIL TYPE influence the development of the mycorrhizal relationship?

Did you know? The soil type (e.g., clay, loam, sand) does not influence mycorrhizae development. Beneficial effects have been observed in clay, loam, sandy and organic soils.

Why?

• There is little or no P available in clayish and organic soils because P is usually fixed on particles. Thus, plants rely on mycorrhizae to extract it.
• Sandy soils do not retain as much water and nutrients as other soil types, and are more subject to drought. Thus, the beneficial effect of mycorrhizae for water uptake is also observed in this type of soil.

3- Does SOIL TEMPERATURE affect mycorrhization?

Did you know? The conditions that are favourable to seed germination or plant growth are also favourable to mycorrhizae.

Why? The mycorrhizal activity is directly related to plant activities and photosynthesis. If growing conditions stimulate plant physiology, it is the same for mycorrhizae. Warmer soils, at the beginning of the season, support more active root development and therefore more mycorrhizae activity and development. This is also true for rhizobia.

4- Are mycorrhizae affected by FERTILIZERS (e.g. Phosphorus) applied?

Did you know? Significant and positive yield increases have been observed in the potato industry where soils have high P, and also in Western Canada where soils have low P but high P rates are added at the time of seeding. 

Why? Phosphorus quickly becomes unavailable in soils as it is fixed on soil particles (via Al, Fe or Ca) and organic matter; and in a form that plants are unable to use it. Mycorrhizae will allow the plant to have access to it. “They [mycorrhizae] are particularly beneficial in the uptake of immobile nutrients like phosphorus which depend on diffusion into an adjacent root [the hyphae] for movement into the plant.’’ ¹ In the organic soil, the phosphorus is fixed by the organic matter. So, this immobilized & non-mobile phosphorus is not accessible for the plant. The plant need the mycorrhizal hyphae to reach and uptake this phosphorus.

5- Can mycorrhizae affect PRODUCTION in a negative way?

Did you know? Mycorrhization is controlled by the plant that facilitates and controls its development through sugar supply and for this reason can’t have negative effect on crops.

Why? In fact, the rate of photosynthesis is substantially increased in mycorrhizal plants, as well as the amount of synthesized sugar (more than the carbon costs of the mycorrhizal symbiose). If mycorrhizae would decrease plant performance, the symbiosis would have been worthless and would have disappeared during the plant’s evolution.

6- Will a FUNGICIDE seed treatment kill the beneficial mycorrhizal fungi?

Did you know? Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) pertain to a different class of fungi, and they are not susceptible to the active ingredients in most fungicide seed treatments tested.

Why? The active molecules of the fungicide don’t interact with the mycorrhizal fungal morphological structure or metabolic process.

7- Will mycorrhizae benefit CANOLA?

Did you know? Brassicaceae plants (canola and mustard) do not establish mycorrhizal symbiosis. In fact, having canola in your crop rotation has a negative effect on mycorrhizae populations in the soil.

Why? Canola roots exude a toxic compound that reduces populations of those beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

What does TRIPARTITE SYMBIOSIS mean?

Did you know? The tripartite symbiosis is the biological interaction between mycorrhizae, rhizobium and plants.

Why? By enhancing root system growth and creating a network of filaments, mycorrhizae help plants to uptake more nutrients, such as phosphorus, and increase the nodulation process for the rhizobium. With the tripartite symbiosis, the plant gets an early start, reaches more nutrients for an increased productivity.

How does it works?

1. Mycorrhizae take up P & water from soil to transfer to the plant
2. Plant can give more P to rhizobium to fix more N
3. Plant will photosynthesize 51% more and grow faster
4. Plant gives carbon to its rhizobium & mycorrhizae partners
5. Mycorrhizae will propagate and spread rhizobium to other roots

11- What is the biological process by which mycorrhizae UPTAKE PHOSPHORUS from the soil and transfer it to the plant?

Did you know? Mycorrhizae have a phosphorus (P) uptake gene in hyphae exploring the soil allowing it to uptake P and transfer it to the root cells. Then, a specific P transporter is used by the plant to bring it into its other cells.

12- Can mycorrhizae have an impact on the incidence of certain DISEASES?

Did you know? Even though our products are biostimulants, there are numerous scientific publications showing that plants having mycorrhizae are more resistant to diseases.

Why? Several mechanisms are responsible for this resistance such as the CNN (competition for niche and nutrients), the Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) and the growth promotion of other soil beneficial microorganisms. ISR acts just like a vaccine would immunize humans from pathogens. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) prime the plant’s immune system to an enhanced state of readiness that can be mobilized rapidly, systematically and effectively against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens and even pests throughout the whole plant.