Fungi and Their Potential Role in Phosphorus Efficiency in Wetland Soils.

Wasim et al (2011) presented the discovery  of fungal mycelium in a Pakistani soil  formed in a region of high rainfall ~1000 mm that had a remarkable mycelium that apparently  contained  globular ferrihydrite with adsorbed  phosphorus in the larger mycelium. The mycelium continued as it matured and shrunk. It decreased in diameter in the older part of the mycelium and within it were many lath-shaped crystals. These findings and other research reports on regions of high rainfall or in soils of coastal regions lepidocrocite  laths have been reported in years past in different parts of the world e.g. Australia, Texas, etc.   Fairy rings, toadstools, and foam emissions on urban lawns  where trees removed indicate that fungi are active and may yield  information on fungal behavior  and possible better understanding    of mineral formation in soils and how phosphorus may be involved with  the ultimate objective of improving   phosphorus use efficiency by plants. Thus far it seems evident that a combination of transmission microscopy, electron diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy , selective dissolution analysis for iron oxides and phosphorus content may yield useful information on relationships between fungi and phosphorus distribution and behavior in soils of high rainfall regions of the world. Also, such investigations provide more information on soil mineral distributions and climate and phosphate distribution and properties. These areas of investigation may yield information on the cost of phosphorus as a major fertilizer expenditure and possible new methods of improving phosphorus use efficiency in soils of high rainfall regions.  These preliminary findings indicate that fungi are a stimulating part of soils of wetlands and may improve food production efficiency when better understood. The inclusion of fungi in soils  extends soil mineralogy into a region of abundant water and has potential for improving our understanding of improving efficiency of agriculture at a time of great concern for the cost of food and how  to provide it efficiently.