Main Data :
Vesicular: arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi are symbiotic soil fungi which colonize the roots of approximately 80% of plant families. They impart to their hosts a variety of benefits which include increased growth and yield due to enhanced nutrient acquisition, water relations, pH tolerance, and disease and pest resistance. The most common beneficial effect of mycorrhizea is increased uptake of immobile nutrients, notably P, from soil. The extraradical mycelium of the mycorrhizal fungus acts in effect as an extension of the root system, more thoroughly exploring the soil volume. The P depletion zone around a non- mycorrhizal root extends to only 1-2mm, approximately the length of a root hair whereas extra radical hyphae of VAM fungi extends 8 cm or more beyond the root making the P in this greater volume of soil available to the host.