INFECTION DEVELOPMENT AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN VESICULAR‐ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

Abstract

The response of mycorrhizal infection to changes in inoculum density was similar in form for Glomus tenuis and Glomus monosporus. Nevertheless, G. tenuis produced considerably more infection per propagule unit than did G. monosporus, probably due to a greater ability of G. tennis to produce secondary infection points. When mixed inocula of the two fungi were used, both the time of harvest and the frequency of each fungus in the inoculum influenced the competitive effects. Glomus tenuis was slow to form infection points, and was less aggressive than G. monosporus at 12‐ and 24‐day harvests. By 36 days the two fungi were equally aggressive and the amount of infection produced by each fungus was directly proportional to its frequency in the inoculum. Copyright © 1983, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved