Recent Advances On Mycorrhizal Fungi

Recent Advances on Mycorrhizal Fungi integrates work done by pre-eminent scientists, academics, and researchers dedicated to the study of mycorrhizas in laboratories around the world. The main aim of this book is to compile the information related to mycorrhizas advancement and their applications. First, an overview of the recent advances in mycorrhizal fungi is fully examined. Then, researchers from different countries address issues related to semiarid, xeric, and agro-ecosystems. A greater understanding of the ecology of this type of fungi will underpin efforts to provide new strategies for agriculture production systems and environmental solutions. Finally, relevant topics such as plant stress and ecological succession with regard to mycorrhizal symbioses are discussed. This book will be useful to those who work with mycorrhizas and important for academic and research teams, as well as to teachers, students, professionals and farmers. This information will be a key foundation to decision-makers worldwide and also for conservationists and ecologists.​

This volume explores the various functions and potential applications of mycorrhizas, including topics such as the dynamics of root colonization, soil carbon sequestration and the function of mycorrhizas in extreme environments. Some contributions focus on the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in various crop production processes, including soil management practices, their use as biofertilizers and in relation to medicinal plants. Other chapters elucidate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the alleviation of plant water stress and of heavy metal toxicity, in the remediation of saline soils, in mining-site rehabilitation and in the reforestation of degraded tropical forests. In addition to their impact in ecosystems, the economic benefits of applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are discussed. A final chapter describes recent advances in the cultivation of edible mycorrhizal mushrooms.

Mycorrhizal symbioses are widespread and fundamental components of terrestrial ecosystems and have shaped plant evolution. Features such topics as plant/fungal communication, the interaction of mycorrhizal fungi with other soil microorganisms, and the use of mycorrhizal fungi in plant-production systems.

This multi-authored book gives an overview of recent advances and breakthroughs in the field of mycorrhizal ecology. The text elucidates mechanisms that determine plant biodiversity - a prerequisite to ensuring successful management for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Topics covered include: all the major mycorrhizal types, plant population biology, multitrophic interactions, biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, global change and evolution. This volume shows that collaboration in the rhizosphere is essential for plants, microbes, plant communities and ecosystems. It has been written with ecologists in mind, giving them easy access to an understanding of how these important interactions could shape our ecosystems.

This book, prepared by participants of the European network COST ACTION 810 (1989-93) is the outcome of a meeting held in Switzerland (Einsiedeln, September 29 to October 2, 1993) on the "Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizas on sustainable agriculture and natural ecosystems". COST(Cooperation Scientifique et Technique) Networks were created in 1971 by the Commission of European Communities, and later enlarged to include non-European Member States, to promote pre-competitive scientific and technical research in fields of common interest. During the eighties, COST ACTIONS were launched in bio technological fields, including the network on arbuscular mycorrhizas. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are a universally found symbiosis between plants and certain soil fungi and essential components of soil-plant systems. They act as a major inter face by influencing or regulating resource allocation between abiotic and biotic components of the soil-plant system. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are involved in many key ecosystem processes including nutrient cycling and conservation of soil struc ture, and have been shown to improve plant health through increased protection against abiotic and biotic stresses. Sustainability can be defined as the successful management of resources to satisfy changing human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environ ment and conserving resources. Increasing environmental degradation and instability, due to anthropogenic activities and in particular the increasing fragility of the soil resource, has led to an increased awareness of the need to develop practices resulting in more sustainable natural and agroecosystems.

Taking ectomycorrhizas and arbuscular as examples of the symbiotic associations between plant roots and fungi, researchers from widely spaced parts of the world report on the new in-vitro culturing and molecular methods of research that have led to discoveries nearly impossible when the fungi would only grow underneath forests, which are hard to manipulate in the laboratory.

This book focuses on an overview of new advances in mycorrhizal fungi, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The book contains chapters on mycorrhizal fungi populations in mangroves, the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhization of pears in in vitro culture conditions, mycorrhizal mineralization of nutrients, mycorrhizal roles in improving soil health, the benefits of synergistic application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and the ecological functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (invasive plant control, mycorrhizal remediation of soil pollution, and mycorrhizal farm management systems). This book can provide theoretical as well as technical support for researchers working on mycorrhizal fungi, and also provide ideas for new research on mycorrhizal fungi in the future.

The roots of most plants are colonized by symbiotic fungi to form mycorrhiza, which play a critical role in the capture of nutrients from the soil and therefore in plant nutrition. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis is recognized as the definitive work in this area. Since the last edition was published there have been major advances in the field, particularly in the area of molecular biology, and the new edition has been fully revised and updated to incorporate these exciting new developments. Over 50% new material Includes expanded color plate section Covers all aspects of mycorrhiza Presents new taxonomy Discusses the impact of proteomics and genomics on research in this area