Experiments are described that led to a better understanding of nutrient requirements for mycorrhizal development in nutrient flow (NFT) culture. For maize infected with Glomus mosseae, solution P concentration around 0.5 mg L−1 was optimal, giving approximately 50% infection. With more P, infection quickly decreased, and it was also low with only 0.3 mg L−1 P. Critical solution P was thus much lower than for Phaseolus vulgaris infected with Glomus fasciculatum (E3). When rock phosphate was used as P source, solution pH was very important because of its effect on P solubility. Nitrogen source ([Formula: see text] versus [Formula: see text]) was important for the same reason. Ca levels also affected mycorrhizal development, the optimum concentration for maize (above 15 mg L−1) being higher than that needed for beans. Maize also had a much higher Fe requirement. The relative merits of rock versus soluble P are discussed. Observations are also are reported on inoculation techniques for NFT and on mycorrhizal infection with other host–endophyte combinations.
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Elmes et al. (1984) studied this question.