Over 90% of the Earth’s vascular plants are mycotrophs – plants which form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi have contributed to plants since long before humans invented agriculture. In fact, many plants are considered obligate mycotrophs, i.e. dependent on mycorrhiza for healthy growth (e.g. corn, carrot, olive, cannabis).
However, modern agricultural methods, such as tilling, fumigation, cut-and-fill leveling, and sterilization of growing media, exterminate mycorrhizae along with the target pathogens. Reintroduction of mycorrhizae in soil restores the plants’ ability to absorb precious nutrients. As a result of this improvement in nutrient uptake, mycorrhizal plants have been shown to demonstrate improved health, higher crop yields and resilience to stress.
