How can soil fungi and ectomycorrhyzae be detected in the soil? Is there a simple method that can be used to demonstrate their presence when you are in the field with farmers?
Hi dear Bruno
You need to study about fungi and their structure, I suggest you to study this book “Introduction to Fungi”. Most of the fungi have microscopic structures in the soil in most of the times so when you want to see them you have to isolate them from soil, so you can culture sample of soil on an usual medium such as “Potato Dextrose Agar” and incubate at 20-25 *C, or use sieving method. Also you need a microscope. In the field some of fungi sometimes have macroscopic structures such as basidiocarp or ascocarp.
Hello Bruno Borsari
To answer your question, it is neccessary to mention which types of fungi you are looking for?
Good luck
What would be the best fungus indicator in soils that are farmed to maintain the best soil health possible? Perhaps the actinomycetes fungi?
Dear Bruno Borsari,
it is a broad question because the soil fungi are diverse on the specific and functional scales
First, it is recommended to target the desired category or fungal group: mycorrhizal fungi? litter decomposers? those involved in humification? useful antagonists ???
One of the simplest methods (but does not fully reflect the biological reality of the soil fungi) is the examination of the litter, using a magnification tool, you can possibly detect the presence of fungi (mycelia)
or the examination of the roots of juvenile woody plants (conifers typically) to observe the appearance of the roots (very branched) testifying the presence of ectomycorrhizae
otherwise the soil must be sampled, taken to the laboratory for hyphae (in terram) using a microscopic slide, or other classical mycology techniques
Depending on the nature of the soil, it is often rare to detect the filamentous fungi at the soil particles level, I prefer that
you work on "concentrated biological substrata"
such as the root, the rhizosphere, the germinating seed (the spermosphere)
Good luck
.... "the actinomycetes fungi" .... ?? you are mixing two groups of organisms together....
(I would) try to focus on fungal plant pathogenic ones (like Fusarium etc. could give you a hint of "health" status of the soil vs agricul soils vs crops... perhaps.
anyhow, good luck
best roman
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