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Abstract Series of greenhouse experiments were made to determine the effects of different endomycorrhizal fungi on the growth of oat ( Avena sativa L., cv. Alma), strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa , cv. Redcoat), leek ( Allium porrum L., cv. American Flag), apple ( Malus domestica Borkh., cv. Beautiful Arcade), and asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis L., cv. Mary Washington) plants which were grown in a calcined montomorillonite clay (Turface) medium and fertilized with a Long Ashton nutrient solution at 100 ml/week·pot (20 cm diameter). Plants were inoculated with 1 g of fresh ash ( Fraxinus americana L.) roots harboring the different fungi. Out of 6 endomycorrhizal inocula used, 4 were well-identified: Gigaspora calospora (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd & Trappe, Glomus epigaeus Daniels & Trappe, Glomus macrocarpus Tul. & Tul., var. macrocarpus , and Glomus monosporus Gerd. & Trappe. The results indicate that Turface is a good growing medium for this type of study, as it permits good plant growth and abundant mycorrhiza formation with standard growing conditions. The fungi used produced different effects according to plant host. There was no correlation between the percentage of root infection and the stimulation of growth in the case of strawberry. Contrarily, there was a significant correlation (1% level) in the case of apple, asparagus, leek, and oats plants. No fungal specificity of the endophyte for the host plant was observed. The unknown endomycorrhizal species had effects on plant growth comparable to those of Glomus epigaeus with apple and strawberry plants.
Plenchette et al. (Thu,) studied this question.