ANNOUNCEMENT: Interested Members of the University Community are invited to attend the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Science of Umbrin Ilyas of the Department of Plant Agriculture On Friday, May 10, 2019 at 1:00 PM in Room 202, Crop Science Building

Thesis Title: Effect of mycorrhizae on yield and disease suppression in onions and carrots

Advisory Committee
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald
Dr. Manish Raizada
Dr. Lindsey du Toit

Examination Committee
Dr. K. Peter Pauls (Chair)
Dr. Barry J. Micallef (External Examiner)
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald
Dr. Lindsey du Toit                               

ABSTRACT

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) inoculant, Glomus intraradices Schenck and Sm, was evaluated to determine effects on yield and disease suppression in onions and carrots.  Interactions with soil phosphorus (P) were also assessed. Trials were conducted on muck and mineral soils near Bradford, Ontario. There was no effect of AMF inoculant on AMF colonization in roots, except in onions on muck soil. There was no effect of AMF and P on the yield of onions and carrots. Mycorrhizae reduced soil P content, but this effect varied with crop and soil type. The severity of carrot leaf blights was lower in carrots grown from AMF coated seeds. The AMF communities in roots varied with the crop. Higher soil P was associated with lower diversity of AMF in carrots, and application of AMF inoculant increased AMF diversity in onions. Application of AMF was not cost effective.