Palm Mycorrhizal associations

[Kailua_Krish]

I was thinking in my botany class about mycorrhizal associations and how they often help plants perform better in the environment. After class I researched it and found a couple of articles showing how these associations significantly improved the health and production of Phoenix dactylifera in middle east palm groves and another on a tropical mexican species of palm. The articles also mentioned that it has been suggested that these associations may also improve disease resistance. I was wondering if anyone ever intentionally infects palm seedling roots with this fungus and if so how are the growth rates impacted. I'm guessing that when planted in ground they get infected by surrounding trees but I would think this would significantly improve seedling survivability and growth rates. Maybe this is already common practice but I thought I would ask.

[Alberto]

Once I got some soil around the roots of Trachycarpus fortunei and mixed with the pot soil of my T.latisectus and martianus and also got some soil from a healthy looking Caryota mitis and I dissolved it in water and watered the slow growing Caryota seedlings (himalayana and gigas) (??????????)I don´t know if it helps my seedings????

Edited May 18, 2008 by Alberto

[_Keith]

This is a subject I would be very interested in. I have been using Mycorrhizal starter mixed with my planting for the last couple of years on a few planting that I thought might have a little trouble like badly pot bound, poor planting hole soil, etc.

I also used aerated compost tea on a few plantings as well.

There is a difference in both, that is obvious, but more so in the compost tea plants. The difference is not really noted in the first year, but in the year after. It seems to take a year off of the sleep, creep, leap scenario.

This year I am going to combine the efforts by simply putting my Mycorrhizal starter mix directly into the aerated compost tea maker a few hours before use, about 24 to 36 hours after starting the original tea mix.

[Kailua_Krish]

Where did you get the mycorrhizal starter mix from?

[_Keith]

This is product I use ( http://www.planetgreenspot.com/ROOTS-Trans...oots-1-step.htm ). Can't say that it is the best, it is just the only one available locally.

[Ken Johnson]

There is some good research on this going on at FTBG. The lecture I saw showed photots of the fungal infections and explained the relationship.

At the end of the lecture we asked if fertilizer (BTW fertilizer kills the fungus) was better and the answer was yes.

[Kailua_Krish]

So fertilizer kills the fungus. Is it amount or something in it?

[Turtile]

  krishnaraoji88 said:

So fertilizer kills the fungus. Is it amount or something in it?

I guess fertilizer with Copper Sulfate could hurt the fungi.

Here is a fertilizer with beneficial Fungi/Bacteria designed for palms:

http://www.horticulturalalliance.com/DIEHARD_Palm.asp

I've used it but I don't know how well it works since I used it with every plant.

[_Keith]

Bear in mind that soil make up and structure has a lot to do with this as well and that all recommendations should be treated as "local" in nature, very local.

[Kailua_Krish]

I have some seeds germinating now of some bismarkia, sabals, trachycarpus, and copernicias and when I get home I think Im going to order some of the different things and try different treatments with different species leaving a pot with no amendments for control. Unfortunately it wont be great as I dont have a large sample group but Im hoping with different species I will be able to gauge some sort of difference.

[Kris]

Intreasting topic ! and iam closely watching...

love,

Kris