Mycorrhizae are soil fungi that benefit the soil in many ways. Mycorrhizal plants have improved shoot and root growth, higher tissue concentrations of phosphorus, and improved water
relations and drought tolerance. Mycorrhizae literally means “fungus root” and describes a mutualistic association between fungus and plant roots that exists in almost all plants. The plant supports the fungus by providing carbohydrates needed for fungal growth, while the fungus helps the plant by increasing its root surface area. Mycorrhizal grapevines have been shown to resist certain fungal diseases.
Potential Benefits of Mycorrhizae:
- Enhanced water and nutrient uptake
- Reduction of irrigation requirements
- Reduction need for fertilizer
- Increased drought resistance
- Increased pathogen resistance
- Increased plant health and stress tolerance
- Higher transplanting success