College - Author 1

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Department - Author 1

Horticulture and Crop Science Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Environmental Horticultural Science

Date

6-2010

Primary Advisor

Virginia Walter

Abstract/Summary

The overall plant growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Glacier) cultivated in greenhouse conditions along with inoculation treatments of beneficial fungi species were observed. This study included 2 brand name products containing species of fungi which include: 1)Botanicare Guardian TR containing Trichoderma harzianum 10,000,000 CFU/g, T. hamatum 10,000,000 CFU/g, T. koningii 10,000,000 CFU/g; and 2)Botanicare Guardian MY containing Glomus intraradices 57 propagules/g;G. fasiculatum 57 propagules/g; G. etunicatum 57 propagules/g; G. clarum 57 propagules/g. Treatments include: Treatments: 1) 2g Botanicare Guardian TR; 2) 2g Botanicare Guardian MY; 3) 1g Botanicare Guardian TR + 1g Botanicare Guardian MY; and 4) Control. The overall height increase was 55.04%, 49.36%, 44.42% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. The overall Fresh Weight increase was 50.47%, 40.95%, 33.55% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. The overall dry weight increase was 62.67%, 53.23%, 42.60% for treatments 3, 2, 1 respectively. These findings are consistent with other studies displaying a synergistic effect between various species of fungi. Compatible combinations of various species of AM and Trichoderma, which result in cropping systems that fully utilize AM and Trichoderma symbiosis, are the most efficient, sustainable, and environmentally sound large scale methods for food production. Further study of synergistic affects of AM and Trichoderma on plant growth, and should be conducted to ensure fungal species are compatible with each other and are compatible for a given a given crop.

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