Down To Earth

Jane Griffiths explores natural methods of enriching soil and keeping plants healthy

- Jane Griffiths

MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

In one teaspoon of healthy soil there are billions of beneficial organisms. Among these are mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with plants’ roots. Professor Joanna Dames is a fungi fundi and heads the Mycorrhizal Research Laboratory at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. She first heard of these fungi as an undergraduate and became intrigued. “I spent 30 years studying the relationship between plants and fungi and am amazed by something new every day.” By growing into the roots, fungi access sugars from the plant. In return, the extensive network of fungal threads provides the plants with nutrients and moisture, vastly expanding the underground area available to them. “In natural undisturbed soil, every 1mm of root can be accompanied by a metre of a mycorrhizal network.” These fungi don’t survive in soil that’s over-cultivated, or where inorganic phosphate fertilisers and some pesticides are used. To redress this imbalance, Joanna has developed Mycoroot from indigenous strains of these fungi. This granular microbial fertiliser is added to the soil, preferably when planting. “Reintroducing these fungi allows vegetables and garden plants to take full advantage of their numerous benefits. To keep them alive and well, adopt an organic approach, reduce soil disturbance and don’t allow beds to lie bare. These fungi are dependent on the host plant to grow,” says Joanna.

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