Basic Research & Applications of Mycorrhizae

Mycorrhizae are a type of fungus formed by the relationship between plant roots and soil, and there is a widespread agreement among botanists and soil scientists that mycorrhizae are beneficial to the health and growth of soil and plants. Research into mycorrhizae has grown enormously in recent years. It is now known that these fungi have numerous properties and functions - they promote plant growth, maintain plant and soil health, provide protection against root diseases, they assist production using reduced fertilizer and pesticides, they effect soil structure, nutrient acquisition, root length and root structure. Mycorrhizae have many useful modern practical applications - the re-vegetation of landscapes, golf courses, contaminated soils, the prevention and retardation of leaf dehydration, the maintenance of soil and plant biodiversity - to name but a few. The editors of this book have produced a valuable collection of specialised contemporary information describing state of the art and modern protocols in mycorrhizal research, compiled and presented in one authoritative volume. It will be a valued reference work for botanists, microbiologists, agricultural and soil scientists.