Field Survey of the Distribution of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Relation to Soil pH

Distribution and abundance of VA mycorrhizal fungi in the Merredin district of Western Australia was examined in relation to soil properties (pH, clay content, organic carbon content, extractable phosphorus). Acaulospora laevis was restricted to soils of low pH whereas Glomus sp. WUM 3 occurred only in soils of high pH; soil pH was not strongly correlated with any of the other soil properties measured. The pH sensitivity of these fungi must be taken into account in the development of commercial inoculum. -from Authors