Vesicular—arbuscular Mycorrhizal Spore Population and Infectivity of Saffron (Crocus Sativus) in Iran

VA mycorrhizal infection of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was assessed in the major growing areas of Khorasan, the northeastern province of Iran. Endomycorrhizal spore population was high in January and low in July. Particularly heavy VA infection occurred in April. When spores of Glomus macrocarpus, recovered from soils, were tested as inoculum on other bulbous plants including onion and crocus, the responses were variable.