Application in Olive
A well mycorrhized olive tree shows:
More vigorous and healthy growth, in particular at early stage.
Improved transplantation success rate
Precocity: more flowers and fruits
Higher resistance to stress conditions: drought, soil and water salinity
Improved tolerance and recuperation from diseases (soil pathogens, nematodes)
The olive tree (Olea europaea) is a highly mycotrophic plant.
It can be mycorrhized at the nursery stage , at transplant, or as adult tree.
Vigorous Growth
Var. Picual, in growth chamber, 16 weeks after planting. |
Var. Arbequina, 11 months after transplantation into the field, 4 plots (n=50) within a 9 ha grove. |
Less nutrients are required to achieve superior growth:
an excellent mariage between economy and ecology!
Stress Resilience
Abiotic stress: draught, salinity (soil and water)
The natural ability of olive tree to withstand abiotic stress is further improved by mycorrhiza. After a stress period, the recovery is faster and more intense.
Nursery olive trees left 3 months without water
Left: no mycorrhiza Right: mycorrhized with MYCOSYM TRI TON®
Biotic stress: soil pathogens, nematodes
Mycorrhizal fungi are no control agent, no pesticide.
However, disease tolerance and recovery from bouts of disease are significantely enhanced when plant are well mycorrhized.
Therefore, as a preventive measure, the mycorrhizal symbiosis must be established at an early stage, when normal conditions still prevail.
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Example of recovery after infection with Verticillium dahliae (VD). |
| Left: | no mycorrhiza, dead plant. |
| Middle: | VD infection made on scarified roots of pre-mycorrhized plant, |
| Right: | VD infection made by transplanting mycorrhized plants into infested soil, new shoots show some verticilosis symptoms. |
Note: This experiment is being continued in the field (same plants and new ones) at the Cordoba Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (CSIC), Spain