Roadside Revegetation

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDES
A
B
Figure 10-33 | Soil inoculum can
be collected in the field
Soil inoculum can be collected from adjacent
plants if done carefully (A). Inoculum can also
be made from the spores of mushrooms (B),
puffballs, or truffles (C) collected from around
the proper host plant.
C
that can reinoculate soils naturally over time, or the spores can be harvested and used to
inoculate nursery stock. On the other hand, the spores of AMF species are large and released
underground and so cannot reinoculate plants very quickly. This makes artificial inoculation
even more critical.
Conserving existing topsoil and organic matter is a key practice to protect existing populations
of beneficial microorganisms. If disturbance will take place, then other interventions will be
necessary to introduce the key microsymbionts for the plants you are trying to establish. Consider
the needs for mycorrhizal inoculants. Are the species to be established endomycorrhizal,
ectomycorrhizal, ericoid or non- mycorrhizal? The selection of the mycorrhizal inoculants must
be based on the target host plants and the site condition. Conifer seedlings, for example, require
very specific ectomycorrhizal fungi for successful inoculation. Endomycorrhizal species, on
the other hand, are broad in range and therefore a general mix of several endomycorrhizal
species can be utilized for a broader range of plants. Knowing which species you are working
with is essential in order to match the plants with their appropriate microsymbiont partners.
Sources and Application of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
Three common sources of ECM inoculants are soil, spores, or pure culture vegetative inoculum.
Soil – Topsoil, humus or duff from beneath ECM host plants can be used for inoculum if done
properly. Because disturbance and exposure to direct sunlight may kill these beneficial fungi,
soil inoculation must be done as quickly as possible. Soil inoculum can also be collected under
the same plant species adjacent to the project site (Figure 10-33A). Small amounts should be
collected from several different locations and care should be taken not to damage the host
plants. If topsoil and organic matter are not available on the project site, spores or commercial
inoculants can be used instead.
Spores – Spore suspensions are sometimes available from commercial suppliers. However,
the quality of commercial sources can be variable so it is important to verify the quality of the
inoculum. It is possible to make your own inoculum from spores. Collect ripe fruiting bodies of
mushrooms (Figure 10-33B), puffballs, or truffles (Figure 10-33C) from beneath healthy plants.
Then, rinse and pulverize them in a blender for several minutes to make a slurry. Fungal spores
do not have a long shelf-life and should be applied immediately.
Roadside Revegetation: An Integrated Approach to Establishing Native Plants and Pollinator Habitat
270