In the New Year, in line with the European Union’s increasing pressure to naturalise crops, we should pay particular attention to the introduction of mycorrhizal fungi accompanied by symbiotic bacteria. Here I will share some insights gained during my work on isolating new mycorrhizal fungi.

Since the mycorrhizal symbiosis of fungi and plants has lasted, as I have calculated, 40,000 times longer than civilisation (about 10,000 years), and 4,000,000 times longer than modern plant cultivation, so Nature’s experience in this area is much richer than ours, and we should take advantage of this and not debate the superiority of our reason. I am therefore surprised by the resistance of the Producer community to introduce mycorrhizal fungi proven by Nature in such a long experience on their crops. I know that “errere humanum est”, but we should nevertheless adhere more to the second part of this Seneca maxim ” in errore perserware stultum” ( to err is human, but to remain in error is foolishness). I would mainly dedicate this sentence to those in power, but I think their level of complacency exceeds Seneca’s imagination. And coming back to our mycorrhiza, I have to say that every year I am surprised by something and I worry that I have less and less time to act, because the Pesel is non-exchangeable so orders have to be rushed.

I ended last year with some new very interesting isolates from fruiting bodies and roots. Particularly interesting were isolates in which I found the presence of truffle mycelium (Tuber sp.) which is an excellent fungus that enters into symbiosis with many tree and shrub species. The existing mycelium in the collection was cleaned of the ballast of marginal saprophytes and brought to a state of high purity and viability. I am currently already propagating mycelium for the spring planting campaign, but larger orders need to be agreed in advance, as it takes 2-3 months for the mycelium to grow to maturity and be efficiently effective.

Interesting observation of several isolations from natural habitats with little pollution from civilisation is the complexes of associated bacteria in which atmospheric nitrogen-fixing and fungal growth-stimulating species are important. Of course, this is in line with Nature’s logic, as forests are not fertilised and yet they grow healthily if we do not disturb them. Such bacterial complexes also show great antagonism towards root pathogens (Fusarium, Phytophthora and others ) so that, when administered together with a mycorrhizal vaccine, they enrich the soil microbiome with these important microorganisms.

Since there is never enough information about the effects of mycorrhization, in December I learned from a client with an olive plantation in Greece about the effects of a treatment carried out in spring 2021 . Well, he told us that the previous year he had 800 litres of oil from this plantation. He obtained 1,200 litres in a few months after being micturated with a specific vaccine. Of course, this is to be checked with the source, but I myself am amazed at such a surprising yield-forming effect, given the short time since treatment (six months).

So much for my thoughts. To conclude with an observation from one customer as to why he wants to mycorrhizate? The answer; to get ahead of the competition. I hope that there will be more and more such customers.

With New Year’s greetings from W. Szałański