The vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi are associated with the majority ot the terrestrial plants. Their function ranges from stress alleviation to bioremediation in soils polluted with heavy metals. However, our knowledge about this symbiosis is still limited. For the semi-arid tropics, where some african countries are located, there is a great possibility of using mycorrhizas as a biological tool for sustainable agriculture. This review gives an overview on the mycorrhizal benefits and recomends some management practices for the semi-arid Africa conditions. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, endomycorrhizas, soil fungi, symbiosis, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 2 (12), pp. 539-546, December 200

Functioning of peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) under nutrient deficiency and drought stress in relation to symbiotic associations

Peanut is a common crop in the semi-arid tropics and for the majority of the population in southern Mozambique it is yet an irreplaceable constituent of the daily diet. The peanut yields, however, have decreased in the last years due to (I) low soil fertility, mainly low nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), (II) growing of unimproved landraces, (III) poor agricultural practices and, (IV) drought stress. ... Zie: Summary