Exploiting Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Technology in Different Cropping Systems under Greenhouse Conditions in Semi-Arid Regions

In intensive agriculture, taking place in Israel in semi-arid regions, under greenhouse conditions, soil disinfection methods are applied routinely. As a result, a reduction in the native arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) population is observed. Interestingly, under such conditions many crops suffer from delayed development and growth in their initial growth stages (i.e., the "stunting syndrome"), and this leads to subsequent decreases in economic yield. However, in the course of the years the application of AM fungal (AMF) inoculums to the soil has proven to be effective in preventing stunting syndrome in plants, in substantially enhancing their growth, and increasing their resistance to abiotic and biotic stress. For economic and practical reasons, AMF inoculums application is not yet feasible for many crops that are suspected of developing stunting syndrome symptoms following soil infestation. Therefore, it has become important to introduce convenient and inexpensive method(s) for applying AMF inoculums, which will enable the direct application of AMF inoculums in the greenhouse, at the time of planting. For that purpose, we have developed several application methods for AMF inoculums, including fabricated bead-based AMF inoculums structures. Some of these were evaluated in greenhouse, and field trials, for their efficacy in supporting colonization of various host roots. In this paper, we will present and discuss several case studies, demonstrating AMF ability to improve crop growth and yield. AMF is suggested to be useful for application both under greenhouse conditions and open field conditions in semi arid regions. However, some obstacles still persist in the application of AMF inoculum in greenhouse crops.