Mycorrhizal fungi in the garden

by Tom Kaltenbach

With a diameter of 880 ha a fungus discovered in Oregon

certainly belongs to the largest beings alive.

Myco (gr. fungus)Rhiza ( gr. root)

Consequently a mykorrhizal fungus is a root fungus, which established a

partnership with a plant.

This partnership is called

symbiosis

More than 90 % of all land - living plants

depend on the symbiosis with fungi.

Ectomycorrhiza

dominate on woody plants,

Endomycorrhizaon herbs.

Tecnical terms:

- Spawn means the tissue of the fungus- Hyphae are the microscopical fibres which form the spawn.- Fructification describes the part of the

fungus, commonly known as mushroom.

Advantages of mycorrhization :

1. Raised water- and nutrient- resorbtion:

The fine hyphae multiply the surface of the root.

Growth and bifurcation of the fine roots are stimulated.

2. Protective effect of the spawn :2.1 mecanical:

- outer barrier: provided by the ‘fungal mantle’ - inner barrier: through ‘Hartig Net’, a layer of

modified cells on the surface of the root. 2.2 chemical:

through the exudation of antibiotic and fungostatic substances.

3. raised general vitality is the result

and the fertilisation can be reduced by

half.

4. In the case of trees also the possibility of a

mushroom- harvest.

Artificial mycorrhization:

Necessary only once in the life of a plant

Products by Mycoflor:

Thank you!