MYCORRHIZAL INTERACTIONS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi are an intimate link betw een the roots of most crop plants and soils, thereby affecting the dev elopment of host plants and host soils. The role of VAM fungi in impro ving plant nutrition and their interactions with other soil biota have been investigated with reference to host plant growth, but little is known about how these interactions affect soil structure. The impact o f cultural practices and the particular role that VAM fungi play in im proving soil structure are discussed in the context of sustainable fan ning.