Glomus intraradices is an arbuscular mycorrhiza

Arbuscular mycorrhiza

An arbuscular mycorrhiza is a type of mycorrhiza in which the fungus penetrates the cortical cells of the roots of a vascular plant....

l fungus used as a soil inoculant

Soil inoculant

Soil inoculants are bacteria or fungi that are added to soils in order to improve plant growth by either:*Freeing up soil nutrients for plant use.*Entering into symbiotic relationships with plant root systems....

 in agriculture

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 and horticulture

Horticulture

Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...

. In addition, it is one of the best mycorrhizal varieties of fungi available to mycoforestry

Mycoforestry

Mycoforestry is an ecological forest management system implemented to enhance forest ecosystems and plant communities through the introduction of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi. Mycoforestry is considered a type of permaculture and can be implemented as a beneficial component of an agroforestry...

, but it "has virtually no market value as an edible or medicinal mushroom"

Glomus intraradices is also commonly used in scientific studies of the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant and soil improvement.

• Mycorrhiza
  Mycorrhiza
  A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant....
  
  l Fungi
• Endomycorrhizal Fungi
• Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
• Glomus intraradices

Physical description

Spores

• Color - white, cream, yellow-brown
• Shape - elliptical with irregularities
• Size - generally between 40 - 140 μm

Hyphae

• Shape - Cylindrical or slightly flared
• Size - Width: 11 - 18 μm

Identification

Glomus intraradices colonization peaks earlier than many of the other fungi in the Glomus genus. There tends to be extensive hyphal networking and intense intraradical spores associated with older roots of host plants.

At times the spores are densely clustered or patchily distributed, depending on the host species. When the spores are heavily clustered, mycorrhizologists and others will tend to mistake G. intraradices for G. fasciculatum.

Reproduction

All fungi reproduce through spores. Hyphae grow from original spores and eventually the fungus creates fruiting bodies (mushrooms) that will release more spores, starting the cycle over again.

Distribution

Glomus intraradices can be found in almost all soils, especially those populated with common host plants and in forests and grasslands.

This is a brief list of some common host plants. Most agricultural crops will benefit from G. intraradices inoculation. Generally host plants must be vascular plants, but not always.

• Onion - Allium cepa L

• Soapbush Wattle - Acacia holosericea

• Flax - Linum usitatissimum L

• Cowpea - Vigna unguiculata

• Tomato Plant - Lycopersicon esculentum

• Albaida - Anthyllis cytisoides

Conservation and status

Glomus intraradices is not in danger of becoming extinct; however, most damage is caused by chemicals and tillage.

Relevance

In numerous scientific studies G. intraradices has been shown to increase phosphorus uptake in multiple plants as well as improve soil aggregation due to hyphae.

Because of these qualities, G. intaradices is commonly found in mycorrhizal based fertilizers.

In a recent study, Glomus intraradices was found to be the only arbuscular mycorrhiza

Arbuscular mycorrhiza

An arbuscular mycorrhiza is a type of mycorrhiza in which the fungus penetrates the cortical cells of the roots of a vascular plant....

l fungi that was able to control nutrient uptake amounts by individual hyphae depending on differing phosphorus levels in the surrounding soil.