Seasonal colonization of winter wheat in South Coastal British Columbia by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Abstract

Seasonal colonization patterns of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at four sites were monitored in the roots of winter wheat through the October to August growing season, as were a variety of environmental factors which might influence these patterns. Fall colonization was observed at the two sites which were the most highly colonized at all five harvests. The other two sites were not colonized until late spring and never attained high levels of colonization. Soil phosphorus, soil moisture, and plant physiology were shown to be most highly correlated with these patterns, while temperature was not believed to be an important factor. Key words: endomycorrhiza, Glomus, Sclerocystis, Acaulospora, Scutellospora.