Arbuscular mycorrhizal dependency of different plant species and cultivars

Abstract

The degree of plant growth change associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization is expressed as mycorrhizal dependency (MD). In this review, previous reports on the differences in MD among plant species or cultivars were surveyed, and the factors affecting the differences are discussed. Mean values of MD were 44% for field crops (37 species), 56% for forage crops (46 species), 70% for wild grasses and forbs (140 species), 79% for trees (26 species), and 56% for all plants (250 species), indicating that the cultivated plant species showed a lower MD than the wild plant species. MD was negatively correlated with root morphological characteristics such as root length, root dry weight, root hair length, density of root hairs, the ability of roots to acquire phosphate from soil, and the phosphorus utilization efficiency of the host plant. Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for low input systems should be carried out in considering differences in MD.