April 23, 2004

Debate continues to rage over the validity of applying spores of mycorrhizae-forming fungi to the backfill soil as a way of ensuring landscape plant establishment, improving post-plant performance, and reducing post-plant stress. Mycorrhizal fungi (either naturally occurring or artificially introduced) are able to colonize the roots of woody plants and provide benefits such as, (1) increased water and mineral element uptake, (2) increased resistance to environmental extremes, and (3) increased resistance to disease-causing pathogens.