Re: Mycorrhiza

Mycorrhizal formation is obligate in Botrychium and, presumably, all
Ophioglossales.
There is a hypothesis that mycorrhizal dependency should decrease over
evolutionary time. Thus, more recently evolved ferns should be less
dependent and those in 'primitive' families should have retained close
relationships with their fungal partners, the ancestors of which assisted
green plants in their colonisation of land.
It seems unlikely that adding sugar to the growth medium would promote
mycorrhiza formation or the mycorrhizal fungus. It may promote other
organisms in the pots.

Louis Chinnery
Senior Lecturer in Biology
The University of the West Indies
Barbados
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lchinnery@uwichill.edu.bb
lec@caribnet.net
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http://scitec.uwichill.edu.bb/bcs
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