Practical Methods In Mycorrhiza Research

Mycorrhizas are soil-inhabiting fungi that form mutualistic root/fungal associations. The intention of this book is to provide a summary of all the mycorrhizal categories from a morphological & anatomical perspective. The first seven chapters cover the seven categories of mycorrhizas based on the structural features of the symbiosis between the plant and the fungus involved: ectomycorrhizas, ectendomycorrhizas, and arbuscular mycorrhizas, ericoid, arbutoid, monotropoid, & orchid mycorrhizas. The final chapter describes dark septate fungal endophytes of roots. Includes glossary and index.

The goal of the volume is to facilitate cross-site synthesis and evaluation of ecosystem processes. The book is the first broadly based compendium of standardized soil measurement methods and will be an invaluable resource for ecologists, agronomists, and soil scientists."--BOOK JACKET.

Taxonomy of the fungi forming endomycorrhizae; Morphology and histology of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae; Methods for the recovery and quantitative estimation of propagules from soil; Quantification of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in plant roots; Production of endomycorrhizal inoculum; Procedures for inoculation of plants with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in the laboratory, greenhouse and field; Evaluationof plant response to colonization by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Spore germination and axenic culture of endomycorrhizae; Taxonomy of ecto- and ectendomycorrhizal fungi; Morphology and development of ecto- and ectendomycorrhizae; Isolation, maintenance, and pure culture manipulation of ectomycorrhizal fungi; Production of ectomycorrhizal fungus inoculum; Ectomycorrhizal inoculation procedures for greenhouse and nursery studies; Quantitative measurement of ectomycorrhizae on plant roots; Evaluation of plant response to inoculation; Radiotracer methods for mycorrhizal research; Electron mycroscopy of mycorrhizae; Mycorrhizae in interactions with other microorganisms.

This handbook provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological methods used to analyze soils and plant tissue using an ecosystem perspective. The current emphasis on climate change has recognized the importance of including soil carbon as part of our carbon budgets. Methods to assess soils must be ecosystem based if they are to have utility for policy makers and managers wanting to change soil carbon and nutrient pools. Most of the texts on soil analyis treat agriculture and not forest soils and these methods do not transfer readily to forests because of their different chemistry and physical properties. This manual presents methods for soil and plant analysis with the ecosystem level approach that will reduce the risk that poor management decisions will be made in forests. This manual was intended for the instructors that teach students soil and plant analyses; however it can also be used by the research laboratories and by environmental scientists.The laboratory procedures in this manual are outlined in easy-to-follow steps and frequently accompanied with examples of calculations, questions to answer, and also a blank data sheet to use. These methods used in this manual can be used on soil and plant tissues found in agricultural, horticulture, forestry, urban, and natural lands.

Mycorrhiza - symbiotic associations between plant roots and fungi - play a major role in many fundamental plant functions such as mineral nutrition or stress resistance. As the link between plants and the soil, mycorrhiza are now of great interest for developing new strategies in sustainable agriculture. Since they allow a decreased use of fertilizer and pesticides, negative impacts on the environment can be minimized. With contributions from renowned international scientists, this manual offers a great variety of practical protocols for analyzing mycorrhiza, including the latest molecular, biochemical, genetical, and physiological techniques.

Thoroughly updated and revised, this second edition of the bestselling Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis presents several new chapters in the areas of biological and physical analysis and soil sampling. Reflecting the burgeoning interest in soil ecology, new contributions describe the growing number and assortment of new microbiological

A two-volume laboratory guide to the techniques routinely involved in mycorrhizal research. The first volume describes techniques applicable to ectomycorrhizal and ericoid systems and the second details those of the vesicular-arbuscular systems.