ISHS Acta Horticulturae 457: Symposium on Plant Biotechnology as a tool for the Exploitation of Mountain Lands
THE ROLE OF MYCORRHIZAS IN THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF PRODUCTIVE WOODLAND |
| Author: | A. Fontana |
| Keywords: | ectomycorrhizas, afforestation, reafforestation, timber production, production of edible fungi |
| Abstract:
Mycorrhizal symbiosis, an association between soil fungi and the absorbing terminal rootlets of plants, is constant on species used for afforestation and reafforestation, timber production and the production of edible fungi. Fungal symbionts play a fundamental role in the improvement of mineral nutrition and water absorption, plant protection and soil integrity, and are thus recognised as important tools in the proper management of farming and forest operations, as well as in the development of agronomic practices in keeping with the concepts of sustainable agriculture. This paper examines recent experimental work on the use of ectomycorrhizal fungi to improve productive woodland conducted by European, American and Australian laboratories. It is felt that the results of these experiments and the application of molecular biology, bioreactors and other new technologies in investigation of the competitive capacity, efficiency and stability, and fructification patterns of artificially introduced fungi will lead to still further improvements. | |
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