The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Abstract

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi are associated with the majority ot the terrestrial plants. Their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. However, our knowledge about this symbiosis is still limited. For the semi-arid tropics, where some african countries are located, there is a great possibility of using mycorrhizas as a biological tool for sustainable agriculture. This review gives an overview on the mycorrhizal benefits and recomends some management practices for the semi-arid Africa conditions.


Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, endomycorrhizas, soil fungi, symbiosis, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza.


African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 539-546, December 2003