The Observation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Roots in Horticultural Plants

To determine the degree of variability among the host plant species in their abilities to become colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), the inoculum for AMF was collected from the various sites in Korea and was inoculated to the three horticultural plants; Tagetes patula, Torenia fournieri, and Salvia splendens. After 4-month growth under greenhouse, mycorrhizal root colonization rates and spore density were measured. The roots of T. patula showed higher colonization rate than both plants of T. fournieri and Salvia splendens. The mycorrhizal root colonization was influenced by both of the AM fungal inoculum and the host species or their interactions. The combination of the host and fungal species was suggested to be important for the application of AMF to horticultural crops.