Approaches suitable for the study on the functioning of vesicular-arbu
scular mycorrhizas (VAM) in the field are discussed, with emphasis on
those VAM-specific processes which may influence P nutrition of crops.
These processes are related to hyphal P transport in particular, and
conventional techniques based on comparisons between VAM-colonized pla
nts and uncolonized controls are therefore of limited value in such st
udies. Novel methods are described, which make use of a two-compartmen
t principle and isotopes to directly measure the P transport by the VA
M mycelium under controlled conditions and in the field. The principle
of isotopic equilibrium may be used for indirectly quantifying the re
lative amounts of P supplied by hyphae and by roots of VAM plants. The
hyphal contribution to P uptake may also be assessed by comparing hyp
hal uptake of P-32 from a hyphal compartment with uptake of P-33 from
a corresponding compartment containing both roots and hyphae. These me
thods are suitable for a functional characterization of VAM fungi and
for identifying constraints to the functioning of VAM.