...Dr. Jim Trappe ( Guru) from Oregon State University Chief Mycologist
. Dr. Trappe is a world authority on hypogeous fungi and mycorrhizal associations.
B.S.F., 1953, University of Washington, Seattle
M.F., 1955, SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse
Ph.D., 1962, University of Washington, Seattle
Research Interests:
Mycorrhizae; Taxonomy and ecology of mycorrhizal fungi; fungi in natural ecosystems.
Current Programs: Mycorrhizal ecology of subalpine and alpine ecosystems; mammal-truffle interactions; population ecology and functions of nonspecific biotrophic root endophytes; taxonomy of hypogeous fungi.
Why are mycorrhizal fungi important to tree growers?
Mycorrhizal fungi gather water and soil nutrients, leach phosphorusand potassium from rock, associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and may act as fungal prophylactics against soil pathogenic fungi.
Dr. Trappe has gone a step further. He says it is easy to find trees
without mycorrhizal fungi in a forest or plantation: they are dead.
So the facts are: most mycorrhizal fungi have not been cultivated at this time, and trees require mycorrhizal fungi for health.
I wanted to write a letter in praise of your mycorrhizal product. Two years ago I started growing Royal palms from seed and decided to experiment with your mycorrhizal inoculum. Half of the palms (100) were grown with your granular mycorrhizal product, and half were grown in planting mix without any amendments. After one year (and stepping up to one gallon containers) I was amazed at the difference. I will list just a few of most dramatic differences:
1) The root system on the trees with mycorrhizae are much thicker. Much more feeder roots.
2) The color of the fronds are much deeper green with the product.
3) I was gone for a few months and many of the trees received no water. The trees with mycorrhizal treatment had a much higher survival rate.
4) There is also an increase in growth rate on the trees with the mycorrhizal inoculant.
I cannot say enough in praise of this product. It has definitely produced all the results it promotes, and then some.
Thank-you!!!"
I just wanted to share with you the experience I recently had at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.
As you know, about 2 years ago I introduced your mycorrhiza products to them, at a time when the whole country was recovering from a severe drought which had lasted for a number of years. The head of the arboricultural department was in real fear of losing some specimens which had been some of the original trees planted some four hundred years ago; obviously they would have been irreplaceable. Since my first trip they have treated most of the really stressed trees with Mycorrhiza and some trees were left untreated.
The results were dramatic to say the least. If I had not seen the results with my own eyes, I would not have believed it myself. This result has certainly cleared up any lingering doubts I had about the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation. Some of these trees, according to the head arborist, have not shown such vigor in the whole time he has been at the gardens (28 Years).
They are absolutely ecstatic with the results. I'm now known as the Lord Of Kew. They gave me the Royal Tour, showing me all the trees they have treated, and believe the results are breathtaking. The end result is that they love us, and now want to use mycorrhiza on all new plantings. I'm really pleased that I have had the chance to witness this remarkable result.
Last year, during the 2004 growing season, I planted corn using a starter fertilizer that contained a blend of 17-6-1-18 plus trace minerals, Humaphos (which is a soft rock phosphate and humates) and mycorrhizal inoculum.
My corn had a noticeable difference between it and the other cornfields in the area. Early crop development was outstanding when compared to other cornfields. We had excellent root development and the corn continued to stay advanced when compared to the other cornfields. The average yield was over 100 bushels to the acre. This compares to 60-70 bushels/acre in areas not treated with mycorrhizal inoculum.
We are located in North Central North Dakota. Corn is not a dominant crop in our area because of the climate. Last years growing season was one of the coolest in recorded history. We had an early frost in August and then another in September. Most of the corn in our area suffered extreme damage before maturity.
I believe my corn survived the early frosts directly as a result of the starter fertilizer blend and the mycorrhizal inoculum. Most of the corn not treated with mycorhizae was sold for silage."
Jerry Miller
President - Agritec, Inc. (Deering, ND)
March 30, 2005
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"Dear Dr. Mike,
Wanted to keep you updated on my inoculation of my strawberries with your Mycorrhiae endo plus product. I treated 80 acres by applying the Mycorrihzae at the time of transplanting the strawberry plants following fumigation of my field.
The results have been superb. I have never seen this field look so healthy and vigorous. The plants established very quickly and are healthier and growing better than any other of my fields. I
