The influence of season and stage of development of plant on <i>Endogone</i> mycorrhiza of field-grown wheat

Abstract

A quantitative and qualitative survey of the indigenous Endogone population in wheat field soil and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza in wheat roots as influenced by season and by the stage of development of the wheat plant was made. The number of Endogone spores in wheat field soil remained relatively unchanged in winter until January during the period of vegetative growth and tillering of wheat plants. The spore number increased after the period of maximum root growth. The extent of mycorrhizal infection was related to the number of Endogone spores in soil. The extent of formation of arbuscules was influenced by the stage of development of the wheat plants.