The Effect of Commercial Inoculum and Mycorrhizae Relationships

Abstract

Our experiment focused on achieving a greater understanding of the relationship between plants and mycorrhizae. The relationship between these two living organisms is unique and is symbiotic. The experiment narrowed in on these relationships be testing the affects of wild mycorrhizae and a commercial brand, in four different soil types. Each lab group was given two species of plants to study. Our group, lap group 1, received Desmanthus illinoeinsis and Monarda fistulosa. Using the commercial inoculum “Plant Success Endo and Ecto-Mycorrhizae” The four soil types included were:

1)                     Commercial inoculum present, with non-sterile soil type

2)                     Commercial inoculum present, with sterile soil type

3)                     Commercial inoculum absent, with non-sterile soil type

4)                     Commercial inoculum absent, with sterile soil type

The plants were transplanted into their own separate holders, and grown under controlled laboratory conditions. The plants height was measured every week and the plants were watered as needed. At the end of the experiment above and below ground growth was weighed and recorded. The experiment we conducted found that plants grown in non sterile soil had an increasingly heavier above ground biomass than those plants that were grown in sterile soil. This is most likely due to the amount of other important biotic factors found in wild soil that benefits plants growth and development. The major takeaway learned from this experiment is that mycorrhizae is not the only biotic factors plant need to thrive to their fullest potential. While adding commercial inoculum is definitely not a bad idea, and does help to an extant; nothing can really beat wild soil.