Improving mycorrhizal colonisation of cotton in sodic soils

Abstract

The mycorrhizal colonisation of cotton in two sodic soils was investigated in a series of glasshouse experiments. Standard techniques to inoculate cotton ('Gossypium hirsutum' L.) plants in sodic soil were unsuccessful until live hyphal cultures were introduced. In the absence of fresh hyphal material, reliance on spore germination to colonise cotton roots in all tested scenarios was unsuccessful. The presence of a fresh mycorrhizal hyphal network within the inoculum source may play an important role in initiating colonisation of cotton roots in moderately and highly sodic soils. Further investigation into mycorrhizal proliferation under sodic soil conditions is warranted.