Alternative Growth Medium Product to Promote VAM Colonization

VAM inoculum is a common specification for large-scale plant production contracts throughout the United States. Currently, VAM inoculation is required for the production of native plant materials in revegetation efforts associated with fire rehabilitation, mine reclamation, conservation plantings, contaminated site cleanup, and other activities. These activities represent a continuous expenditure of public and private funds worth several million dollars annually. A major problem in the revegetation industry is the inability of container growers to produce plants colonized by VAM. Despite the commercialization of VAM inoculum by the biotechnical industry, actual colonization of plants using standard nursery practices has provided consistently low colonization rates. Bitterroot Restoration, Inc. proposes to develop a growth medium product that promotes VAM colonization under standard plant production conditions. Our project will evaluate the influence of alternative growth media components on VAM colonization rates. A series of greenhouse studies will be conducted which systematically contrast VAM colonization rates with recently developed and existing growth media, amendments, and fertilizer types.