EFFECT OF FREE-SOIL-INHABITING OR ROOT-ASSOCIATED MICROFUNGI ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE AND ON PROLIFERATION OF INTRARADICAL MYCORRHIZAL HYPHAE

Colonization of maize roots by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomu s fistulosum and proliferation of intra-radical distributive hypha: wa s influenced by the free-soil-inhabiting sterile microfungus SC. Inocu lation with this isolate significantly increased the percentage of the infected root length and changed the composition of population of mic rofungi in the cultivation substratum. Compared to a control without i noculation with any saprophytic microfungus, inoculation with the isol ate SC significantly (by approx. 100%) increased the percentage of roo t segments showing the proliferation of mycorrhizal fungus, the mean n umber of proliferating hypha: per active (proliferating) root segment being increased by approx. 200%. The plant growth was not affected by inoculation with any of the saprophytes tested.