The Fungus Among Us: The effects of mycorrhizae fungi on grasses

Abstract

We studied the effects of commercial mycorrhizae inoculum, Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Endomycorrhizae, and native mycorrhizae within the native soil, on two prairie grasses, Bothriochloa ischaemum and Andropogon gerardii.   We hypothesized that the plants inoculated will have both a higher stem width and chlorophyll content. We also investigated weather one type of mycorrhizae was better than the other or if both in combination was better.  Using a full factorial design plants were divided randomly into four treatment groups, Commercial mycorrhizae inoculum absent—sterilized prairie soil  (No mycorrhizae present), Commercial mycorrhizae inoculum absent—non-sterilized prairie soil (Wild type mycorrhizae only), Commercial mycorrhizae inoculum present—sterilized prairie soil (Commercial type mycorrhizae only), Commercial mycorrhizae inoculum present—non-sterilized prairie soil (Both commercial and Wild type mycorrhizae). Measurements were taken on survivorship, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and biomass. We did not have any significant difference between inoculation or soil treatment levels for biomass, stem diameter, and chlorophyll content.