News & Media

By Steve Werblow Glomalin may be the most im-portant thing most people have never heard of. Often described as “soil superglue,” this protein helps bind soil particles together in aggregates, the structures that protect organic matter, hold moisture, and improve soil tilth. The presence of glomalin is also an indicator of a vibrant and vital […]

By Mike Amaranthus, Ph.D. The ancient Romans had a legend about a malicious boy who tor-mented a fox by tying wheat straw to its tail and then setting the straw on fire. The Roman god of crop protection, Robigus, was so irritated that he penalized humanity with wheat rust, the fungal disease that leaves a […]

By Mike Amaranthus Ph.D. There is an awful lot of fungus in the world. There are an estimated 1.5 million species with a total biomass around twice that of all animals. Despite their widespread occurrence and diversity this group of organisms is poorly understood. Fungi are famous for their effects on moldy bread, itching toes […]

Fact Sheet 01-29 MYCORRHIZAE (Myco = fungus Rhiza = root) Angela M. O’Callaghan, Ph.D. Southern Area Social Horticulture Specialist  When plants live in challenging locations, they often develop mechanisms to help them survive. These include morphological characteristics such as thickened, small or narrow leaves to reduce water loss, slowing the plant’s growth rate, or developing […]

Mycorrhizae Mycorrhizae play an important role in plant nutrition. Because they are unseen, they are often disregarded when it comes to deciding upon a cause for decline in a particular planting. Just what are mycorrhizae and why are they so important in plant production? Ectomycorrhizal roots of Picea abies (photo by H. Blaschke). The word “mycorrhiza” means […]

Dig up the roots of a healthy plant system and you’ll find an array of webbed filaments attached to the roots and soil. Those are mycorrhizal fungi, and they’re constantly at work promoting root system growth, nutrient efficiency and water absorption. Mycorrhizal fungi are critical for the health of organic and conventional planting systems, fostering […]

Researchers who are exploring this relationship are finding that mycorrhizal fungi are a vital part of ecosystem health around the world—not only in less intensively managed ecosystems but in agricultural landscapes as well. Mycorrhizal Fungi Mycorrhizal fungi colonize the root system of a host plant to form a symbiotic relationship and assist with water and […]