The Affect of Pythium Irregulare On Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi Structures In Strawberry Roots.

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) is a type of fungus which can exist in a mutually beneficial relationship with plants. AMF are found in the soil and they colonize plant roots. The morphological structures of AMF include hyphae, arbuscules, and vesicles. Vermicompost is the compost formed from worm castings. Pythium irregulare is an oomycete plant pathogen. Pythium irregulare is found in the soil and it causes damping off and root rot. An experiment was conducted to assess how Pythium irregulare affects the structures of AMF within strawberry roots, in the presence or absence of vermicompost. The experiment was conducted November 10, 2010 through March 1, 2011. The data is currently being analyzed.