Phase II: VAM-Gro: Alternative Growth Media to Promote VAM Colonization

VAM inoculum is commonly specified for large-scale plant production contracts throughout the United States, including 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 hundred-million dollars annually. A major problem in the revegetation industry is the inability of container growers to consistently produce plant colonized by VAM. Despite the commercialization of VAM inoculum by the biotechnical industry, actual colonization of plants using standard nursery practices has resulted in consistently low colonization rates. The goal of Phase II research is to create a marketable growth media product termed "VAM-Gro" for the landscape and restoration/reclamation nursery industries based upon our Phase I research. In Phase II, we intend to demonstrate increased root biomass production under nursery conditions, increased field survival, and increased field growth rates for plants grown in VAM-Gro above industry standard growth media. In addition, we intend to develop an alternative colonization testing method that will be easily and economically integrated into production nursery operations.