Three studies were conducted on VA mycorrhiza in Wanagama Forest Research Center, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The first was on VA mycorrhizal status of four forest species (Acacia mangium, Acacia holosericea, Tectona grandis, and Swietenia macrophylla) plantations and nurseries of Acacia mangium and Tectona grandis. Samples from the field were only taken during the dry season, June 1988. These four six-year old forestry species were mycorrhizal. Nursery plants had higher VAM colonization than the plantation roots and both Acacia species have higher percent colonization than the other two species. Available phosphorus in calcareous soils is low and seems not to be a major contribution to the variation of VAM colonization. Potassium and sodium were more important in this case even though their role could not be determined in this study. The second study was conducted to determine VAM fungal species associated with the plant species. There were 16 different spore types belonging to the genera Glomus, (the most common found), Sclerocystis, Scutellispora, and probably Acaulospora. Type of inoculum and host compatibility were suggested as important factors in the success of pot culture study. The third study was carried out in a growth chamber to determine Acacia spp. response to single VAM fungal species and mixed species inoculum. Single species inoculum in both Acacia was observed to improve biomass and plant growth better than the mixed inoculum. Acacia mangium performed better with Glomus versiforme than did A. holosericea. Host compatibility, effectiveness of VAM spore inoculant, infectivity and environmental factors have major effects on plant growth responses. Study of tropical VAM requires further basic research, including taxonomy. Experimental procedures such as pot culture technique, type of inoculum, growth media and host plant specificity along with evaluation of appropriate soil chemical analysis also requirefurther elaboration. These types of studies are needed to understand the relationship between VAM and the environment and in the application studies in agriculture and forestry. This information is especially important in tropical countries, where little research results and limited resources, such as for fertilizers, are available. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

"June 2002" / Bibliography: leaves 179-194. / 194 leaves : ill. (col.), plates (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The overall aim of the research presented in this thesis was to determine if the growth and function of external hyphae of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is affected by changes in soil pore size. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Soil and Water, 2002

"June 2002" / Bibliography: leaves 179-194. / 194 leaves : ill. (col.), plates (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The overall aim of the research presented in this thesis was to determine if the growth and function of external hyphae of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is affected by changes in soil pore size. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Soil and Water, 2002

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Soil Science, 1995? / Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 184-197).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin -- La Crosse, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 42-46)

The overall objective of this project was to investigate the effects of the symbiotic association of plants with vesicular - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the intensity of intraspecific competition and its consequences on population structure I performed four main glasshouse experiments using a non - cultivated species, Rhodanthe chlorocephala ssp rosea, or a cultivated species, Trifolium subterraneum. I grew the plants at different plant densities, under different levels of resources ( phosphorus and / or light ), in environments with homogeneous and / or patchy distribution of phosphorus ( P ). In pots with homogeneous distribution of P, the addition of P to R. chlorocephala and mycorrhizal infection in T. subterraneum increased plant biomass of single plants. However, these beneficial effects were reduced by increasing plant density. Shading of plants of T. subterraneum did not generally alter these effects. Mycorrhizal symbiosis and the addition of P always increased the intensity of plant intraspecific competition. In trays with patchy or homogeneous distribution of P, mycorrhizal infection and patchy distribution of P increased the total biomass and size inequality of populations of plants of T. subterraneum. Individual biomass was determined by the local soil P concentration in patchy environments and by mycorrhizal infection in low density treatments. Mycorrhizal infection, but not patchy P distribution, increased relative competition intensity. Asymmetric or symmetric distribution of resources between plants will change these size hierarchies. The distinction between these two types of distributions has lead to two different models explaining the interaction between competition and size inequality ( degree to which the biomass is concentrated within a small fraction of the population &# 40 Weiner and Thomas 1986 ) ) the resource depletion and resource pre - emption models ( Weiner and Thomas 1986, Weiner 1988b ). In the first model ( resource depletion ) competition reduces the relative growth rate of all the individuals by the same proportion, reduces variance of growth rates and reduces variation in sizes. Thus, in this model resource acquisition is proportional to plant size ( Weiner 1990 ). This model is also called symmetric or two - sided competition and applies when competition for nutrients predominates. It predicts that at high density, plants will be smaller but the population will have less inequality than at low density ( Weiner and Thomas 1986 ). In the second model ( resource pre - emption ), competition increases the variation in relative growth rates and increases variation in sizes. Large plants obtain a more than proportional share of the resources ( relative to sizes ) ( Weiner 1990 ) and this increases their competitive ability which results in a positive feedback on plant size. This phenomenon is also called snowball cumulation, asymmetric or one - sided competition and it was observed only when competition for light was predominant ( Wilson 1988a ). This second model predicts that at high density plant populations will have more inequality than at low density ( Weiner and Thomas 1986 ). Although these two models are generally accepted, alternative analyses and recent experiments show that the degree of asymmetry of the interaction depends on the spatial and temporal distribution of the resource, the spatial distribution of the individuals in the population, neighbourhood competition and the mobility of the resource ( Huston 1986 ; Miller and Weiner 1989, Weiner 1990, Bonan 1991 ). Weiner ( 1990 ) suggested that if nutrients are distributed homogeneously and the uptake is proportional to root size, the competitive interaction will be more symmetric, whereas if patches with more nutrients can be reached by large individuals, asymmetric competition will predominate. This hypothesis has not been tested yet. Turner and Rabinowitz ( 1983 ) found that populations with an initial random spatial distribution of individuals had an unexpected increase in size inequality. My results emphasise that the main effects of mycorrhizas at the individual level cannot be expected to be apparent at the population level, because of the influence of density - dependent processes. However, infected individuals with a strong response to the symbiosis would have an advantage in situations of competition. This scenario can explain the maintenance of the symbiotic ability even under conditions such as dense populations, where there is no obvious advantage of the symbiosis at the population level. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Soil and Water, 1998.

Under field conditions, vesicles were the most frequently observed mycorrhizal structures in sugar maple, while greenhouse grown seedlings formed more arbuscules. Seasonal fluctuations of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae existed. Mycorrhizal associations formed within 30 days in the greenhouse. Arbuscules were usually formed from hyphal coils and occasionally from linear hyphae spreading from cell to cell. Degenerating arbuscules were not observed. The addition of basic cations increased the number of vesicles formed and decreased the overall infection rates and seedling growth. The uptake of calcium, magnesium, and nitrogen decreased, and potassium uptake increased as fertilization rates increased. Positive correlations existed between the incidence of arbuscules and plant growth and health and between the incidence of arbuscules and the uptake of calcium, magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus, and with the uptake ratios and these elements with potassium. This suggests that vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae may in some way be regulating ionic balance in these seedlings.

Mycorrhiza is an association between a host plant and a soil fungus. Experiments were conducted to determine low temperature and soil disturbance effects on AM fungus winter survival and vigour in spring. The results showed that cool temperatures significantly reduced plant root growth and delayed AM formation. Glomus intraradices sporulation was highest at 23°C, while spore metabolic activity was significantly reduced with temperature below 10°C. Root length and colonization percentage decreased at 10°C. Mycorrhizal fungi increased 32P activity of leek leaves at a root zone temperature of 23°C 7 days after 32P injection, and at both 23°C and 15°C 14 days after injection. No difference was found at 0°C between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Amounts of total and metabolically active spores and hyphae varied over sampling times. The infectivity of AM fungi was not affected by soil disturbance, but varied among the sampling times.

The overall objective of this project was to investigate the effects of the symbiotic association of plants with vesicular - arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the intensity of intraspecific competition and its consequences on population structure I performed four main glasshouse experiments using a non - cultivated species, Rhodanthe chlorocephala ssp rosea, or a cultivated species, Trifolium subterraneum. I grew the plants at different plant densities, under different levels of resources ( phosphorus and / or light ), in environments with homogeneous and / or patchy distribution of phosphorus ( P ). In pots with homogeneous distribution of P, the addition of P to R. chlorocephala and mycorrhizal infection in T. subterraneum increased plant biomass of single plants. However, these beneficial effects were reduced by increasing plant density. Shading of plants of T. subterraneum did not generally alter these effects. Mycorrhizal symbiosis and the addition of P always increased the intensity of plant intraspecific competition. In trays with patchy or homogeneous distribution of P, mycorrhizal infection and patchy distribution of P increased the total biomass and size inequality of populations of plants of T. subterraneum. Individual biomass was determined by the local soil P concentration in patchy environments and by mycorrhizal infection in low density treatments. Mycorrhizal infection, but not patchy P distribution, increased relative competition intensity. Asymmetric or symmetric distribution of resources between plants will change these size hierarchies. The distinction between these two types of distributions has lead to two different models explaining the interaction between competition and size inequality ( degree to which the biomass is concentrated within a small fraction of the population &# 40 Weiner and Thomas 1986 ) ) the resource depletion and resource pre - emption models ( Weiner and Thomas 1986, Weiner 1988b ). In the first model ( resource depletion ) competition reduces the relative growth rate of all the individuals by the same proportion, reduces variance of growth rates and reduces variation in sizes. Thus, in this model resource acquisition is proportional to plant size ( Weiner 1990 ). This model is also called symmetric or two - sided competition and applies when competition for nutrients predominates. It predicts that at high density, plants will be smaller but the population will have less inequality than at low density ( Weiner and Thomas 1986 ). In the second model ( resource pre - emption ), competition increases the variation in relative growth rates and increases variation in sizes. Large plants obtain a more than proportional share of the resources ( relative to sizes ) ( Weiner 1990 ) and this increases their competitive ability which results in a positive feedback on plant size. This phenomenon is also called snowball cumulation, asymmetric or one - sided competition and it was observed only when competition for light was predominant ( Wilson 1988a ). This second model predicts that at high density plant populations will have more inequality than at low density ( Weiner and Thomas 1986 ). Although these two models are generally accepted, alternative analyses and recent experiments show that the degree of asymmetry of the interaction depends on the spatial and temporal distribution of the resource, the spatial distribution of the individuals in the population, neighbourhood competition and the mobility of the resource ( Huston 1986 ; Miller and Weiner 1989, Weiner 1990, Bonan 1991 ). Weiner ( 1990 ) suggested that if nutrients are distributed homogeneously and the uptake is proportional to root size, the competitive interaction will be more symmetric, whereas if patches with more nutrients can be reached by large individuals, asymmetric competition will predominate. This hypothesis has not been tested yet. Turner and Rabinowitz ( 1983 ) found that populations with an initial random spatial distribution of individuals had an unexpected increase in size inequality. My results emphasise that the main effects of mycorrhizas at the individual level cannot be expected to be apparent at the population level, because of the influence of density - dependent processes. However, infected individuals with a strong response to the symbiosis would have an advantage in situations of competition. This scenario can explain the maintenance of the symbiotic ability even under conditions such as dense populations, where there is no obvious advantage of the symbiosis at the population level. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Soil and Water, 1998.

Thesis (M. Ag.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Plant and Soil Sciences, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-79).