Mycorrhizal Applications

The science behind mycorrhizae can be explained quite simply, and can be understood in tandem with an often used horticultural adage: “The better the roots, the better the plant.” Mycorrhizal fungi live in symbiosis with plants, directly providing the root system with what the plant needs (water and nutrients), while the plant provides what the mycorrhizal fungi need (excess sugars from photosynthesis). The mycorrhizae establish this relationship when a growing plant’s root tips come into contact with a mycorrhizal propagule. Once established, mycorrhizae expand the root mass by sending out ultra-fine mycelium filaments (hyphae) into the soil. These hyphae act as a living extension of the plant’s roots, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of nutrient and water utilization by the plant. This relationship can increase the effective absorptive area of a plant’s root system by as much as 50 times.

Researchers have estimated that approximately 95 percent of all vascular plants on earth are mycorrhizal. Plants and mycorrhizae have developed this mutually beneficial relationship as a mechanism for increased survival. If you go out into nature on a hike in any undisturbed area like a forest or a meadow, chances are good that the plants all around you are relying on this symbiotic relationship to thrive in the absence of inputs. However, in horticulture, the mycorrhizal propagules that kick off this relationship are generally absent from soil or artificial growing media, and must be introduced through inoculation. Mycorrhizal Applications’ MycoApply^® mycorrhizal inoculant products can be easily added to a professional grower’s production protocol by several means: soil/media incorporation, drench, or plug/liner/bare root dip.

As the leader in the field of commercial mycorrhizal inoculant products, the team at Mycorrhizal Applications has decades of experience helping professional growers adopt this crucial symbiotic technology. Growers can work with Mycorrhizal Applications to determine the best blend of mycorrhizal species to utilize for the particular crops that they grow, discuss which inoculation methods to consider, and plan for the ideal timing in the production process for inoculation in order to ensure the lowest cost and maximum return on investment. Mycorrhizal Applications is also actively working with growers across the country who are adopting mycorrhizae in their greenhouse or nursery. If interested in learning more about applying mycorrhizae, growers can contact the Mycorrhizal Applications team for information, resources, and also to determine if an on-site consultation is available.

As a Northeast nursery grower recently said, “Mycorrhizae makes sense for our nursery and our customers. Not often do you see a product that can help our customer have increased success in their landscape gardens.” The potential benefits to professional growers of utilizing MycoApply^® are immense. These benefits include improved plant performance, higher plant grade out, and shorter crop time, just to name a few. MycoApply^® is available through many nursery and greenhouse supply distributors in the U.S. and Canada.

For more: www.mycorrhizae.com, email inquiries@mycorrhizae.com or contact the team at (866) 476-7800.