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Re: radish & microbes

Don Chapman wrote:
> 
> At 07:09 AM 1/9/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >At 01:59 AM 1/9/98 -0800, Darryl Clark wrote:
> >>> >> I seem to recall that Ipomea is dependent on mycorrhizae.
> >
> >most plants depend on simpler life forms to predigest and package nutrients.
> >lichen encrusting boulders and rock faces are a simple, basic example of
> >this symbiosis: a bacteria digesting rock and an algae capturing sunlight.
> >
> >generally the more complex the plants, the more it depends on microflora for
> >food.  we know trees develop complex symbiosis with a variety of soil
> >microflora.  but not much more, and very little about vegetables.
> >
> >>> OK, now the only time my radishes developed good roots was when they were
> >>> planted between two trees; growing in the trees' root zones, where one
> >>> would expect to find mycorrhizae growing naturally.
> >
> >i'm surprised.  a radish -- a fast growing, simple annual -- seems not as
> >likely to depend on microbes and mycorrhizae for feeding.  brassicas in
> >general seem weak rooted vegetables, without extensive networks feeder roots.
> >
> >~ david
> >*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> >David Yarrow at TurtleEyeland
> >P.O. Box 6034, Albany, NY 12206
> >518-458-8144
> >dyarrow@igc.org
> >http://www.danwinter.com/yarrow/
> >http://www.danwinter.com/ChampionTrees/
> >Eve, the earthworm sez: "If yer not forest, yer against us."
> >
> 
> David - I agree with your observation that fast-growing crops like radishes
> (and lettuce) are probably not as affected by mycorrhizal fungi as are
> longer-term plants (tomatoes, melons) and certainly not as affected as
> perennial plants (asparagus, grapes, fruit trees, etc.).
> 
> However, we have received reports from hydroponic lettuce growers that
> inoculation with myco fungi have had a dramatic effect on their plant's
> root systems from the standpoint of preventing fungus disease.  A grower
> with severe root problems called to say that the inoculated lettuce roots
> are now the brightest white healthy color he's ever seen.
> 
> I think this is all still experimental, but we should keep in mind that
> increased yields alone are not the full measure of mycorrhizal fungi's
> potential benefits.  Its antagonistic-protective role may be equally or
> more important.  Fighting bad fungus with good fungus may be a viable
> cultural practice, even for quick-maturing crops.
> 
> Still much to learn, but we're making progress.
> 
> Don Chapman
> Bio/Organics, Inc.
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