Research approaches to study the functioning of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas in the field

Approaches suitable for the study on the functioning of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) in the field are discussed, with emphasis on those VAM-specific processes which may influence P nutrition of crops. These processes are related to hyphal P transport in particular, and conventional techniques based on comparisons between VAM-colonized plants and uncolonized controls are therefore of limited value in such studies.

Novel methods are described, which make use of a two-compartment principle and isotopes to directly measure the P transport by the VAM mycelium under controlled conditions and in the field. The principle of isotopic equilibrium may be used for indirectly quantifying the relative amounts of P supplied by hyphae and by roots of VAM plants.

The hyphal contribution to P uptake may also be assessed by comparing hyphal uptake of 32P from a hyphal compartment with uptake of 33P from a corresponding compartment containing both roots and hyphae. These methods are suitable for a functional characterization of VAM fungi and for identifying constraints to the functioning of VAM.