Incidence of Fusarium Root Rot in Asparagus Seedlings Infected with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus as Affected by Several Soil Amendments.

Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts and mechanisms

“…In at least two cases where data from field soils were presented, it appears that mycorrhizal fungi responded more positively to biochar additions than to additions of other types of organic material added as control (Harvey et al 1976;Ishii and Kadoya 1994). The experiment by Matsubara et al (2002) showed that a fresh organic amendment had fairly similar effects as biochar in increasing AMFmediated host plant resistance against Fusarium and that the asparagus plants reached similar mycorrhizal colonization levels with both additions. But the 9-week gap between inoculation with AMF and with Fusarium makes this aspect of the experiment somewhat difficult to evaluate.…”

“…Increases in soil nutrient availability may result in enhanced host plant performance and elevated tissue nutrient concentrations in addition to higher colonization rates of the host plant roots by AMF (Ishii and Kadoya 1994). Lastly, experiments by Matsubara et al (2002) suggested that biochar can also increase the ability of AMF to assist their host in resisting infection by plant pathogens.…”

“…These experiments show that additions of biochar materials generally result in the alteration of soil physico-chemical properties that may lead to increases in soil nutrient availability (measurements taken from both soil samples and plant tissues) and/or increases in root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi (Ishii and Kadoya 1994;Matsubara et al 2002;Yamato et al 2006). In a greenhouse experiment by Matsubara et al (2002), the soil pH of treatments receiving biochar increased from 5.4 to 6.2 (10% biochar by volume) and 6.3 (30% biochar by volume). According to Lucas and Davis (1961), these pH values fall within the pH range (5.5 to 7.0) where plant nutrients are near their maximum availability in agricultural soils.…”

“…Tryon (1948), Matsubara et al (2002), DeLuca et al (2006), and Gundale and DeLuca (2006) demonstrated that biochar additions can change soil nutrient availability by affecting soil physico-chemical properties. Increases in soil nutrient availability may result in enhanced host plant performance and elevated tissue nutrient concentrations in addition to higher colonization rates of the host plant roots by AMF (Ishii and Kadoya 1994).…”

Pioneering works in biochar research, Japan

“…The immobilising ability of pine charcoal could be improved by mixing it in acetic acid. Matsubara et al (2002) reported that coconut shell charcoal innoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was effective in suppressing the soil-borne pathogen infection by Fusarium sp. Charcoal application with different fertilisers Fig.…”